Woman strangles newborn to death hours after birth at Rajasthan hospital
Jaipur (PTI): A 40-year-old woman allegedly strangled her newborn son to death, just hours after giving birth at a government hospital in Rajasthan's Churu district, police said on Saturday.
According to police, the accused, Guddi Devi, gave birth to her fifth child on Thursday night.
"A few hours later, while the other family members were asleep in the hospital ward, she killed the infant by strangulation," Kotwali Station House Officer (SHO) Sukhram Chotiya said.
Initial investigation revealed that Guddi Devi was under severe financial stress and mental distress. Her husband, Tarachand, has been paralysed and is bedridden.
"She reportedly told her relatives that she could not bear the burden of raising another child," police said.
The incident came to light early Friday when Guddi's elder sister, Maina Devi, noticed that the newborn was not moving.
"She saw deep marks on the baby's neck and immediately alerted the doctors, who declared the infant dead," the SHO said.
A post-mortem confirmed death by strangulation. Based on the sister's complaint, the police registered a case of murder against the woman.
"The accused is still undergoing post-delivery treatment at the hospital. She will be arrested once she is declared medically fit," Chotiya said.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
