Infant girl killed by father, grandfather in Bengal; body buried in forest
Synopsis
A two-month-old girl was allegedly killed by her father and grandfather in West Bengal's Jagatdal and buried in a forest — reportedly because the family wanted a male child. The mother says she was stopped from taking the infant to hospital. Neighbours sounded the alarm, leading to the body's exhumation and the arrest of both men. The post-mortem report is awaited.
Key Takeaways
Apurba Banerjee (father) and Vikas Banerjee (grandfather) arrested on 23 July for allegedly killing a two-month-old girl in Jagatdal, North 24 Parganas .
The body was secretly buried in a forested area near the family home; police exhumed it after a complaint by local residents.
Investigators say the family was allegedly unhappy at the birth of a second daughter, pointing to gender bias as a possible motive.
The infant's mother, Sampati Banerjee , said she was prevented from taking the sick child to hospital by her husband and father-in-law.
The body has been sent to Barrackpore Sub-Divisional Hospital for post-mortem; the exact cause of death is pending the autopsy report.
Both accused have been booked under relevant sections of law; investigation is ongoing.
A two-month-old girl was allegedly killed by her own father and grandfather in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, with her body secretly buried in a forested area near the family home, police said on Thursday, 23 July. The accused — Apurba Banerjee, the child's father, and Vikas Banerjee, her grandfather — have since been arrested following a complaint and protests by local residents in the Jagatdal area.
How the Crime Came to Light
According to police, the infant had reportedly been unwell for several days before her death. On Wednesday, allegations surfaced among neighbours that the child had been killed and clandestinely buried in a nearby forest. Locals raised an alarm and lodged a complaint, prompting police to act swiftly.
Officers took the two accused to the site and, acting on information provided by them, exhumed the body. It was subsequently sent for post-mortem examination to Barrackpore Sub-Divisional Hospital. Both men were arrested and booked under relevant sections of law.
What the Mother Said
The infant's mother, Sampati Banerjee, gave a harrowing account of events. 'My daughter was sick for two or three days. When I woke up this morning, I saw that her body was cold. She was not breathing. I wanted to take my daughter to the hospital. But my husband and father-in-law did not agree. They quickly took the dead girl from my lap and buried her in the forest next to the house,' she said.
Her account raises serious questions about whether medical care was deliberately withheld from the infant in her final days.
Suspected Motive: Gender Bias
Investigators said the family had allegedly been expecting a male child and were reportedly unhappy after the birth of a second daughter. According to police, the accused had not even visited the hospital to see the mother or the newborn after the birth — a detail that investigators say points to deep-seated gender bias as a possible motive.
This comes amid persistent concerns in India about female infanticide and gender-selective violence, particularly in rural and semi-urban pockets. Notably, the infant's death was initially passed off as natural, with no neighbours or authorities informed before the hurried burial.
Neighbours Raise Alarm
Resident Chandrani Mondal told local media: 'In the morning, we received news that the baby girl was killed and buried in the ground by her father and grandfather. We went to find out about the matter. But they told us that the baby girl died naturally. If that is what happened, why did the family members bury her in the ground so quickly without informing anyone? We want the police to investigate the incident.'
The community's swift response — questioning the circumstances and demanding accountability — was instrumental in triggering the police action that led to the arrests.
Investigation Underway
Police confirmed that the exact cause of death will be determined once the post-mortem report is received. A fuller investigation remains underway. The case is expected to be examined under provisions addressing child murder and potential violations of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) framework and related statutes, depending on findings from the autopsy.
Authorities have not ruled out additional charges pending the medical examiner's conclusions.
Point of View
Awareness campaigns, and schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. What makes this case particularly disturbing is the complicity of two generations of the same family, and the mother's testimony that she was actively stopped from seeking medical help. The hurried, clandestine burial — with no neighbours or authorities informed — suggests premeditation, not panic. The post-mortem will be critical: if it reveals signs of violence or deliberate neglect, the charges must reflect that gravity. Investigators should also examine whether the infant's illness in her final days was the result of medical neglect driven by gender bias.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has been arrested in the West Bengal infant murder case?
Apurba Banerjee , the child's father, and Vikas Banerjee , her grandfather, have been arrested in connection with the alleged killing of a two-month-old girl in the Jagatdal area of North 24 Parganas , West Bengal. Both were taken to the burial site by police, who then exhumed the body.
What is the suspected motive behind the infant's killing?
According to police, the family had allegedly been expecting a male child and were reportedly unhappy after the birth of a second daughter. Investigators say the accused did not even visit the hospital after the child's birth, suggesting deep-seated gender bias as a possible motive.
What did the infant's mother say happened?
Sampati Banerjee , the mother, said her daughter had been unwell for two to three days. She said she wanted to take the child to hospital but was prevented by her husband and father-in-law, who instead took the infant from her arms and buried her in the nearby forest.
Has the cause of death been confirmed?
Not yet. The body was exhumed and sent to Barrackpore Sub-Divisional Hospital for post-mortem examination. Police said the exact cause of death will be determined once the autopsy report is received.
How did the crime come to light?
Neighbours in the Jagatdal area grew suspicious after the family claimed the infant had died naturally but buried her hurriedly without informing anyone. Local residents lodged a complaint and staged protests, prompting police to investigate and subsequently arrest the two accused.
