Picture used for representational purpose only

TRICHY:A woman beat her five-year-old daughter to death with a belt on Monday in Trichy district, allegedly as punishment for watching TV for long hours, police said.

P Lathika Sri of Pallivasal Street in Kattuputhur was declared dead by doctors at the government hospital in nearby Salem distric. Police are questioning her parents. The deceased was the only child of Nithiya Kamalam, 35, and 37-year-old Pandian. On Monday, allegedly cut up with her daughter being glued to the television set, despite regular warnings, Nithiya beat the girl all over the body, an officer said.

Fatal Punishment

Girl was forced to stand in sun

She then made the child stand outside the house in the blazing heat as further punishment. Soon, the girl fainted. Her father Pandian took her to the primary health centre (PHC) at Kattuputhur where she was administered first aid before being referred to the government hospital in Namakkal district. When her health worsened, she was taken to the government hospital in Salem.

The Kattuputhur police got information about the incident from the Salem police. A police officer said the truth behind the incident would be known only after the parents were questioned. The Kattuputhur police said they expected to take the couple into their custody late at night. The body of the child has been kept at Salem GH for postmortem.

