Three-year-old girl dies of poisoning in Anuppur; father accused, also consumes pesticide

A three-year-old girl from Gaurela died after drinking poison in the Jaitahari police station area of Anuppur district. The poison was given on the evening of November 12, and the child died during treatment at 7 pm on Friday. Her father, Mohit Singh Gond, is accused of making her drink the poison mixed with water. The reason for the act is not yet known.

Late on Friday night, after the incident, Mohit also consumed pesticide at home. Family members admitted him to the district hospital in a serious condition, where he is undergoing treatment.

The child's aunt (father's elder brother's wife), Manvati Singh Gond, said Mohit's wife, Sushila Singh Gond, is the only child of her parents. She stays alternately at her in-laws' home and her parental home. Before Diwali she had gone to her parents' home to harvest paddy and had not returned. Her mother-in-law, Phoolbai, had also told her to return soon as the paddy harvest was under way at her in-laws' home.

According to Manvati, on the evening of November 12 Mohit went, without telling the family, to his in-laws' home in Gaurela, about 2 km away. There he asked his daughter for drinking water. When she brought it, Mohit first drank a little himself and then made his daughter drink as well.

The girl's maternal grandmother, Sumitra Bai Singh, reached home at about 6 pm after the paddy harvest. The child told her that her father had given her medicine. Soon after, her condition began to worsen. Relatives took her on a motorcycle to the Community Health Centre at Jaitahari. After primary treatment there, she was admitted to the district hospital at 9 pm.

According to the family, the child was treated for about 24 hours and died at 7 pm on Friday. On Saturday afternoon, members of both her maternal and paternal families reached the district hospital. The police assistance centre recorded the family's statements. After the post-mortem, the body was handed over to the family.

The girl's uncle (father's elder brother), Nemu Singh, said he and his wife reached home at 10 pm. He asked Mohit about the allegation made by his younger brother's in-laws and said that a police case was likely. Mohit then went into his room out of fear and bolted the door from inside. Family members tried to get him to open it but he did not. They also called villagers and the sarpanch to try to get the door opened, without success.

At about 1 am Mohit opened the door himself and fell to the ground. He said, "I have drunk poison, my daughter did not survive, I have also drunk poison." Villagers then admitted him to the district hospital, where his treatment continues.