Nizamabad: Father kills six-year-old daughter to bypass two-child norm, contest local polls in Maharashtra

Nizamabad: In a shocking case of political ambition turning deadly, a father allegedly murdered his six-year-old daughter by pushing her into the Nizam Sagar canal in Nizamabad district to qualify for contesting the upcoming panchayat elections under the two-child norm, police said.

The incident happened on January 29, and the deceased was identified as Prachi (6).

Conspiracy to bypass election rules

Disclosing the case details before the media on Monday, Nizamabad Commissioner of Police P. Sai Chaitanya said that the accused, Pandurang Kondamangale, a resident of Kerur village in Mutkhed mandal of Nanded district in neighbouring Maharashtra.

He was keen on contesting the forthcoming panchayat elections as sarpanch. However, the rule disqualifying candidates with more than two children posed a hurdle, as he had three children.

The CP said that Pandurang later attempted to change his son’s birth certificate by arranging for the child to be given up for adoption. When this plan failed, Kondamangale allegedly decided to kill his daughter.

Determined to overcome this, Pandurang allegedly hatched a plan to eliminate one of his children to meet the eligibility criteria. Investigators revealed that he conspired with Ganesh, the sitting sarpanch of Kerur village, to carry out the crime, the CP said.

Crime executed in Nizamabad District

Elaborating further, he said that as part of the plan, Pandurang brought his elder daughter, Prachi, to Edapalli mandal in Nizamabad district. Police said the girl was taken to the ARP Camp area near the Nizam Sagar canal on his motorcycle, where she was pushed into the canal while still alive.

She was swept away by the strong water current and died of drowning, he added.

Shocking truth emerges during probe

Initially registered as a suspicious death, the case took a dramatic turn during the investigation, with police uncovering the motive linked to the panchayat elections. Statements, technical evidence and questioning of suspects exposed the conspiracy behind the murder.

Accused arrested

After the girl’s photograph was circulated in WhatsApp groups, police received information identifying her as Kondamangale’s daughter. Kondamangale was questioned and later confessed to the crime, the CP said.

Following the revelations, police arrested Pandurang along with Ganesh for their alleged role in the murder. Further investigation is underway to ascertain if any others were involved or had prior knowledge of the crime.

Public outrage

The incident has triggered widespread outrage, with many terming it a brutal reminder of how unchecked political ambition and misuse of election norms can lead to heinous crimes.

Police said strict action would be taken against all those responsible.