Team Herald
MAPUSA: A heart-wrenching incident was reported on Sirsaim on Sunday when a five-month-old baby was allegedly done to death by her parents using a wooden chakla belan locally known as latni at Chapel Vaddo.
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The Colvale Police have identified the deceased baby as 5-month-old Jiya Gondlekar and have arrested her parents 32-year-old Arminda Dora Fernandes and 42-year-old Sudan Gondlekar in this connection.
According to police, the incident came to light at around 3.30 am when the baby’s parents arrived at the Colvale Police Station with the dead baby which shocked the police. The Colvale Police team immediately rushed the baby to the North Goa District Hospital, Mapusa where the doctors on duty declared her dead.
During the course of the interrogation, both the parents kept changing their statements which led the police to immediately apprehend them.
According to sources, several bruises were found on the baby’s body.
A police team headed by DySP Jivba Dalvi along with PI Somnath Mahajik rushed to the spot. SP North Shobit Saxena also visited the crime scene. Fingerprint experts were also pressed into service.
Dalvi said, “Arminda Dora Fernandes and Sudan Gondlekar with their common intention killed their five-month-old baby using a wooden chakla belan locally known as “latni”. Both have been placed under arrest and in this connection, Colvale Police have registered offence under Section 302 r/w 34 IPC and Section 8(2) of Goa Children’s Act, 2003.”
Colvale PI Somnath is conducting further investigation.
The couple were staying in a rented house at Sirsaim. During the incident, the five-year-old daughter was at her relative’s house. Sudan is a coconut plucker by profession while Arminda is a housewife.
