Madurai: The Madurai rural district police have arrested an absconding couple in connection with the case of suspected female infanticide at Kodanginaickenpatti village near here.
Police sources said the couple O Muthupandi, his wife M Kausalya, hailing from Periyakattalai village, was arrested from their relativeās house, where they were hiding for the past few days after the suspected infanticide came to light. They were taken to Sedapatti police station for inquiry.
Kausalya gave birth to girls in her first two deliveries. She had deliveredĀ third girl baby at the primary health centre at Sedapatti on 21 December.
However, the baby died on December 26 and was buried near their houseĀ by the couple secretl, claiming that the six-day-old baby died of suddenĀ illness.
Suspecting female infanticide, the Periyakattalai village administrative officer lodged a complaint with the police, based on which the Sedapatti police have registered a case under Section 318 of the IPC.
The couple, along with their two girl children went in to hiding after the police registered a case against them.
The body of infant was exhumed and doctors from the Government Rajaji Hospital conducted a post-mortem on the spot and viscera samples were collected for chemical analysis.