Jealous aunt drowns niece, 6, at wedding because child ‘looked prettier than her

A woman in Panipat, northern India, has been arrested after allegedly drowning her six-year-old niece during a family wedding celebration. The woman, known as Poonam, is accused of killing the child, Vidhi, because she believed the girl “looked prettier than her.”

According to investigators, Vidhi disappeared during the festivities, prompting relatives to search the area. After about an hour, the child’s grandmother found her in a nearby storeroom with her head submerged in a plastic tub of water. She was taken to a local medical college but could not be saved.

Police say Poonam confessed to the crime, telling officers she did not want anyone — even a child — to appear more beautiful than she did at the event. Authorities believe she carried out the killing while other guests were distracted.

During questioning, Poonam also reportedly admitted to previously killing three other children, including another niece and her own son, in separate incidents over the past two years. Investigators say each case involved drowning and that the woman targeted children she viewed as more attractive.

Police are now re-examining the earlier deaths, which the family had initially believed were accidents. Officers say the pattern suggests a deeply disturbed motive rooted in jealousy.