In a deeply disturbing revelation, the Haryana Police have apprehended a woman in her early thirties on charges of serially murdering four children, including her own son, driven by a twisted obsession with their physical appearance. The arrest in Panipat has exposed a chilling pattern of crimes meticulously staged to look like accidental deaths.
A Chilling Confession and a Twisted Motive
The accused, identified as Poonam, a resident of Bhavad village in Sonipat, reportedly confessed to the killings during police interrogation. Her motive, as revealed by investigating officers, was an unsettling fixation on the victims' 'too beautiful' looks. She allegedly did not want any child to surpass her own in attractiveness, a belief that spiraled into a series of homicides over two years.
According to the police, Poonam first killed her niece (her brother-in-law's daughter) in Bhavad village in 2023. Her own son witnessed this act, leading her to murder him as well. Both children were found drowned in a water tank, and she successfully passed it off as a tragic playtime accident. Later, in August of an unspecified year, she killed another child in her native Sivah village using a similar method.
The Investigation That Unraveled the Truth
The string of murders, which had initially raised no suspicion, began to unravel after a fresh incident on December 1, 2025. The body of a six-year-old girl, another niece of Poonam, was discovered drowned in a water tub at a wedding venue in Naultha village.
A key breakthrough came when the girl's grandfather, Pal Singh, a retired Sub-Inspector, raised immediate doubts. He pointed out that the room where the child was found had been bolted from the outside and that her body was found half-submerged, suggesting foul play. His complaint prompted a serious investigation.
Panipat Superintendent of Police Bhupender Singh stated that the family, including the victim, had attended a relative's wedding in Naultha, which Poonam and her husband Naveen also attended. After the child went missing, a search led to the horrific discovery on the first floor of the premises.
Revisiting Past Tragedies and Final Arrest
Following Pal Singh's complaint and the subsequent detention of Poonam, her confession opened a Pandora's box. She admitted to the three earlier murders, prompting police to re-examine those cases. Officers found a consistent modus operandi: all the children, including her son, had been killed in a similar manner and their deaths were made to appear natural or accidental.
The investigation suggests the accused may be suffering from a mental disorder. Her arrest has sent shockwaves through the villages of Sonipat and Panipat, where the communities had mourned what they believed were unrelated, tragic accidents. The case highlights the critical importance of thorough investigation even when deaths initially seem natural.
