In a series of chilling crimes that have left two villages in Haryana in a state of shock and disbelief, a 32-year-old woman stands accused of murdering four young children, including her own three-year-old son. The accused, identified as Poonam, allegedly drowned her victims in tubs or drums of water, with police stating she displayed psychopathic tendencies and showed no remorse.
Family's Occult Theory vs. Police's Psychopathy Claim
The families of the victims and the accused are grappling with the horror, struggling to accept that a mother could commit such brutal acts. Many relatives point to a possible occult angle, noting a disturbing pattern: all four children were killed on Ekadashi, the 11th day of the lunar cycle. They allege Poonam was taken to a tantrik in Kairana, Uttar Pradesh, by her in-laws, who believed she was troubled by spirits.
However, the Panipat police have firmly dismissed any supernatural motive. Superintendent of Police Bhupendra Singh stated that thorough questioning revealed "nothing substantial" to support the occult claim. Instead, investigators assert that Poonam suffers from a severe mental disorder. "She displays psychopathic tendencies and has shown no remorse for killing the children," a police official said.
A Timeline of Horror: The Ekadashi Connection
The grim sequence of events, as pieced together by the police, reveals a methodical pattern linked to the lunar calendar.
On January 2, 2023, which was an Ekadashi, Poonam allegedly drowned her nine-year-old niece, Ishika, and her own three-year-old son, Shubham, in Bhavar village. Police say she killed Shubham because she feared he had witnessed Ishika's murder.
On August 19, 2025, another Ekadashi, six-year-old niece Jiya was found dead in Siwah village, Panipat. Initially thought to be an accident, her death has now been confirmed as murder.
The final alleged murder occurred on December 1, 2025, also an Ekadashi, in Naultha village. In a particularly cold-blooded act, Poonam is accused of coaxing her six-year-old niece Vidhi to bring a tub of water and then drowning her in it.
Families Torn Between Grief and Unanswered Questions
The mother of the accused, Sunita, expressed utter shock and revulsion. "My daughter showed no signs of illness before marriage and was considered normal," she said. She revealed the family had taken Poonam to a tantrik but never understood the reason fully. Sunita insisted her daughter must face punishment for the murders.
Deepak, the father of victim Jiya, highlighted the Ekadashi link but acknowledged the law does not recognise occult notions. "All the children were murdered on Ekadashi and they were all killed by drowning," he said, while conceding to the police's medical assessment.
Poonam has been remanded in judicial custody. However, police may seek her custody again as a second FIR was filed on Thursday based on Deepak's complaint regarding Jiya's death. A report concerning the 2023 murders has been forwarded to Sonipat police.
Expert Weighs In: A Rare and Severe Mental Disorder
Hisar-based senior psychiatrist Dr. Narendra Gupta provided a medical perspective, attributing such extreme actions to severe mental disorders often caused by hormonal imbalances that impair judgment. He stated the case appears highly abnormal and that he has not encountered a similar pattern in his 25-year career.
Dr. Gupta issued a crucial warning, stating that such individuals are difficult to identify. He urged families to remain alert to behavioral changes and seek timely medical intervention. He also emphasized that children are more vulnerable to harm from known persons than from outsiders, a tragic reality underscored by this case.
As the legal process unfolds, the communities of Siwah and Naultha villages are left to mourn the innocent lives lost and confront the terrifying possibility that the danger came from within their own homes.
