Karnataka: Father 'pushes' 2 children into canal for favouring mother, both die
Source Entity
LAIRENLAKPAM WARLI
A 36-year-old man in Karnataka's Yadgir district has been charged with murder after allegedly pushing two of his children into an irrigation canal. The father reportedly cited the children's preference for their mother as his motivation before confessing to police.
Tragedy in Yadgir: A Father Accused of Filicide
In a harrowing incident that has shocked the Yadgir district of Karnataka, a 36-year-old man stands accused of the murder of his two young children. The victims, a nine-year-old girl and her two-and-a-half-year-old brother, were recovered from an irrigation canal following an intensive search operation conducted by local police and the Fire and Emergency Services.
The Sequence of Events
According to official police reports, the suspect, identified as Shantappa, transported three of his children to an irrigation canal near Ganganala village on a motorcycle. It was there that he allegedly pushed the two youngest children into the water. Following the act, he reportedly traveled to town with his six-year-old daughter—the sole surviving child present—and contacted the 112 emergency helpline to confess to the crime.
Motive and Psychological Underpinnings
During the subsequent police inquiry, the suspect allegedly stated that the two deceased children were closer to their mother and did not share a positive relationship with him. This motive points to deep-seated domestic volatility and a disturbing manifestation of parental alienation or resentment. While legal proceedings are currently in the preliminary stages, the assertion that the children's personal affinities triggered such a violent response highlights a severe breakdown in family dynamics.
The Search Operation and Recovery
The recovery of the bodies was a complex task, hampered initially by the onset of nightfall. Following the emergency call, authorities launched an immediate search. Efforts had to be paused overnight due to poor visibility but resumed on Thursday morning. The recovery was eventually facilitated by coordination with the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Limited (KBJNL), which assisted in managing the canal environment to locate the victims.
Legal and Societal Implications
The Yadgir police have officially registered a murder case against the father. This incident has ignited a conversation regarding the protection of children within domestic settings and the early warning signs of parental psychological distress. Such acts of filicide are rare but leave a profound impact on the local community, raising questions about the role of social support systems in identifying high-risk domestic situations before they escalate to lethal violence.
Conclusion
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on the legal accountability of the accused and the well-being of the surviving child. This tragic event serves as a somber reminder of the vulnerabilities children face within their own homes and the critical need for robust mental health resources and family counseling services to address domestic conflicts before they result in irreversible loss.