Bengaluru Couple Had Twin Daughters Through IVF After 24 Years of Marriage; Mother Accused of Killing 4-Month-Old Babies
Bengaluru: A Bengaluru couple who had been married for 24 years without children and became parents to twin daughters through IVF four months ago have been struck by tragedy, with the mother accused of drowning and suffocating the two infants at their home, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West) Anitha B. Haddannavar.
Police received information through a medico-legal case from Shankara Hospital at around 1.30 pm to 2 pm that two four-month-old twin girls had allegedly been killed by their mother by drowning them in water, the DCP said.
Following an inquiry, the children’s father, Ramalingappa, lodged a complaint against his wife, Umadevi, alleging that she had killed their four-month-old twin daughters by immersing them in water and suffocating them.
According to the information provided by Ramalingappa to police, he and Umadevi had been married for the past 24 years and had remained childless for a long period. The twin girls were born through IVF about four months ago.
The DCP said Ramalingappa told police that Umadevi had experienced post-delivery depression following the birth of the children. He also told police that she had earlier been taken for consultation with mental health professionals.
According to the police account, Ramalingappa had gone out of the house on the day of the incident, while his mother and sisters were at home. Umadevi reportedly said she was going to take a bath and locked the room from inside.
When Ramalingappa returned, he was told that Umadevi had gone to bathe and that the room was locked. As considerable time passed without the door being opened, he became suspicious and knocked on it, but received no response, police said.
He then looked through the window and noticed that the room had been locked and that cloth had been placed over the window. Ramalingappa subsequently called his friends, and they forced open the room using a rod, according to the DCP’s account.
On entering, they allegedly found Umadevi attempting to harm herself using her veil at the window grille. She was rescued, the DCP said.
The two infants were found lying inside the room and appeared unresponsive. Ramalingappa and his friends immediately took the children to Shankara Hospital, where doctors examined them and declared both dead, according to police.
Ramalingappa subsequently approached Talaghattapura police and sought legal action against his wife, alleging that she had killed the two four-month-old infants by drowning and suffocating them.
Police have registered a case based on the complaint and initiated legal proceedings, DCP Haddannavar said.
Umadevi is currently undergoing treatment at NIMHANS, according to the police statement.
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