A horrific tragedy has unfolded in Janakpurdham sub-metropolitan city-16 Kapileshwar, where a young mother and her infant daughter were found burned to death on Wednesday night.
Locals alerted police after hearing a child’s screams and seeing a flickering fire near a pond around 8 pm. Upon arrival, they discovered the woman’s clothes and body badly burned, and the child critically injured with burns. The presence of a mobile phone torch and a plastic bottle smelling of kerosene were noted at the scene.
The child tragically succumbed to her injuries on the way to Janakpur Regional Hospital.
Police have identified the victims as 23-year-old Priyanka Mahato Kanu and her 10-month-old daughter Mahi Mahato, residents of Manara Siswa Municipality-2 in Mahottari.
Dhanusha Police Spokesperson DSP Ranjan Awa states that the circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear. While initial evidence points towards possible suicide, the technical investigation is ongoing, and the possibility of murder has not been ruled out.
Priyanka’s father-in-law, Phekan Mahato, reports that she had left for her parent’s home for treatment in Janakpurdham on Wednesday. After her father couldn’t find her, the family discovered she had left earlier that afternoon. The news of the deaths came as a devastating shock to the family.
Priyanka’s husband works in the village, and both families indicate there was no history of serious conflict within the marriage. The father-in-law suspects foul play may have been involved.
