A family wedding turned into a crime scene over simple jealousy
What was meant to be a day of immense joy for a family in northern India became an unimaginable tragedy. A six-year-old girl was killed during a wedding celebration, and her own aunt is the primary suspect. The alleged motive was chillingly simple: the woman reportedly did not want any other child to look “more beautiful” than her.
The event in Panipat, India, took a darker turn when the accused allegedly confessed to a string of other murders. She is now in custody, leaving two families to grapple with celebrations that ended in profound loss.
A Celebration Shattered
The family had gathered for a wedding ceremony on a Monday, a day filled with promise and happiness. Six-year-old Vidhi attended the event with her father, mother, 10-month-old brother, and her grandmother, Omwati. The festivities were in full swing. Everything stopped when Vidhi’s father received a phone call. His daughter was missing.
Panic set in immediately. The family and wedding guests quickly formed a search party, desperately looking for the little girl. According to The Daily Mail, the search lasted for an hour before the worst possible discovery was made. Vidhi’s grandmother, Omwati, found her in a storeroom nearby. The child’s head was submerged in a tub of water, her feet on the floor. They rushed Vidhi to the NC Medical College, but it was too late to save her.
A Shocking Motive and a String of Allegations
Suspicion quickly fell upon the girl’s aunt, a woman identified locally as Poonam. Reports from local media state that Poonam allegedly confessed to drowning her young niece. The reason she gave authorities was deeply disturbing. She believed no child in her family should be prettier than her.
The revelations did not end there. Panipat Superintendent of Police Bhupender Singh provided a statement on the suspect’s state of mind.
“The accused appears to be a psychopath. She believed no child in her family should be more beautiful than her,” reports India Today.
During questioning, Poonam also allegedly admitted to killing three other children in the past. The alleged victims include:
- Her own son, who had reportedly drowned.
- Her sister-in-law’s daughter, another niece.
- A young girl in the nearby village of Siwah, killed in August for also being ‘prettier’ than her.
Poonam is currently being held in police custody. At the time of reporting, no official charges have been filed against her as the investigation continues.
When Joy Abruptly Turns to Grief
In a separate and unrelated incident, another wedding celebration was marred by a sudden and heartbreaking death. Guests watched in horror as a groom died while dancing with his new bride at their wedding reception. The tragic moment was captured on video as Ashraf Abu Hakam collapsed while celebrating.
He was holding his wife’s hand, surrounded by friends and family, when he suddenly fell to the ground. The joyous atmosphere instantly changed to one of shock and then grief. Guests rushed to provide aid, but their efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. Doctors later confirmed that Ashraf Abu Hakam had suffered a fatal heart attack on what should have been the happiest day of his life.
Video footage from the event shows Ashraf and his bride dancing happily as a band plays. He was seen waving a Saidi stick, a traditional dancing pole, just moments before he collapsed. The music and laughter were replaced by screams as the celebration came to a devastating halt.