Swayed by astrologer, granny smothers seven-day-old girl in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: A 60-year-old woman allegedly smothered her seven-day-old grand-daughter and dumped the body in a vacant land in Soladevanahalli area, north Bengaluru. The trigger is believed to be an astrologer’s prediction that her family would be in financial trouble if her newly married son isn’t blessed with a boy.
Parameshwari A, a resident of Medarahalli near Chikkabanavara, was arrested and remanded in 14-day custody on Saturday.
In December last year, Parameshwari’s son Marshal got married to Tamilselvi against her wishes. Marshal runs a milk booth near his residence and is a small-time realtor. Police said Parameshwari wanted her son to tie the knot with a girl of her choice and she walked out of the house following his marriage with Tamilselvi. She had been living in Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, on November 22, the couple was blessed with a girl. "Parameshwari returned home to take care of Tamilselvi and the newborn. She was, however, upset that Tamilselvi had given birth to a girlchild. She thought the child would bring bad luck and planned to kill her," police said.
Around 9pm on Friday, Tamilselvi finished feeding the infant and handed her over to Parameshwari before going to the bathroom. A few minutes later when she stepped out of the bathroom, the child was missing.
When questioned, Parameshwari gave vague replies. She said a stranger entered the house and took the child away. A shocked Tamilselvi shouted for help and neighbours joined her in searching for the child. Soon, they spotted the infant’s body in a vacant land behind the house, police said. "On questioning, Parameshwari confessed to the crime," they added.