The horrifying case emerging from Panipat has left the nation stunned as details reveal a deeply disturbing pattern of violence carried out by a woman within her own family. What began as a day of wedding celebrations quickly spiralled into tragedy when a young girl went missing, only to be found dead under chilling circumstances. The accused, later identified as the child’s paternal aunt, has confessed to a series of murders that expose a long-running chain of crimes driven by jealousy and resentment.
The incident has shaken the community, raising serious concerns about unnoticed behavioural patterns, family dynamics, and the eerie quietness with which the accused managed to operate for years. According to investigators, the woman had crafted a façade of normalcy, masking her cruel intentions behind regular domestic routines. As shocking confessions came to light, the police uncovered a pattern that connected multiple child deaths across years—each occurring under similar suspicious circumstances.
Authorities now believe that the accused had been harbouring dangerous insecurities and emotional instability, targeting children she perceived as more admired or beloved than herself. The latest murder finally exposed the sequence of events that had previously been dismissed as accidents. With her arrest, the grim truth has emerged, painting one of the darkest crime stories in recent memory.
How the Crime Unfolded in Panipat
The victim, six-year-old Vidhi from Sonipat, had travelled with her family to Panipat’s Naultha village to attend a relative’s wedding. The joyous atmosphere quickly turned chaotic when the child disappeared shortly after the wedding procession reached the house. As guests mingled outside, Poonam, the accused, noticed Vidhi walking upstairs and followed her.
Once on the terrace, she engaged Vidhi in a friendly conversation to gain her trust. She then guided the little girl into a plastic tub of water kept in a storeroom. According to investigators, she forced Vidhi’s head underwater until she drowned, then bolted the door from outside. The accused calmly returned downstairs, blending back into the wedding crowd as though nothing had happened.
An hour later, Vidhi’s grandmother discovered the child lifeless in the tub. The family rushed her to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead. The sudden shock quickly escalated into suspicions, leading to the filing of an FIR and a full-scale investigation. It was during questioning that the police uncovered far more sinister details linked to the accused.
A Pattern of Serial Child Killings
As the interrogation deepened, Poonam admitted to having killed four children in total—three nieces and her own son. Her motives, as per police statements, stemmed from feelings of jealousy and insecurity. She did not want other children, especially girls, to appear “more beautiful” or more cherished within the family.
Among the victims was her own three-year-old son, Shubham. The accused claimed she feared that her involvement in another child’s death would be suspected, prompting her to kill her son in a similar manner to divert attention. She drowned him, staging the death to look like an accident. The revelation horrified both investigators and family members, who had initially mourned the boy’s death believing it to be a tragic mishap.
Another victim was nine-year-old Ishika, her sister-in-law’s daughter, whom she had drowned in a water tank in 2023. Yet again, the death was dismissed as accidental due to lack of evidence pointing otherwise. The pattern continued into 2025 when she murdered six-year-old Jia, her cousin’s daughter, in Siwah village. The common element in all these incidents was the drowning method—quiet, quick, and easily misinterpreted as accidental by family and authorities.
Investigation Links the Murders
The Vidhi murder case became the turning point in exposing the chain of crimes. During questioning, inconsistencies in Poonam’s statements alerted the police, who then revisited the previous deaths that had occurred under her presence. Cross-examinations, behavioural analysis, and circumstantial evidence gradually built a case that pointed toward serial killings disguised as accidents.
Police officers noted that the accused showed little remorse during questioning and justified her actions through a warped logic of jealousy and insecurity, particularly toward young girls perceived as “prettier” or more admired. Her confessions shocked the investigative team, who now believe the earlier cases could have been prevented had the behavioural signs been recognised earlier.
The discoveries have prompted police to re-examine previous child death cases in the region, especially those occurring in similar domestic settings. The case has also sparked public outrage and demands for stricter psychological screening and support within families facing internal conflicts.
A Disturbing Psychological Profile
While the full psychological evaluation of the accused is still underway, early observations suggest a deeply rooted inferiority complex combined with emotional instability. Experts believe she may have exhibited long-term behavioural issues that went unnoticed or dismissed by those around her.
Her actions reflect a disturbing pattern of targeted violence against innocent children—a behaviour comparable to psychopathic tendencies marked by lack of empathy, manipulative behaviour, and cold execution of crimes. Authorities have indicated that the accused acted alone, with no evidence suggesting external influence or involvement.
Such cases raise critical questions about mental health awareness within families and the need for timely intervention when individuals exhibit disturbing behaviours or extreme jealousy and resentment toward others, especially children.
Impact on the Family and Community
The family, already grappling with previous accidental deaths, has been devastated by the revelations. Relatives expressed shock, stating they had never suspected such extreme actions from Poonam, who had maintained a quiet, unassuming presence in the household.
The community in Naultha and surrounding villages remains shaken as the investigation continues. Local residents have expressed fear and disbelief that such crimes could occur unnoticed for so long within a closely-knit environment where relatives often share living spaces during festivals and celebrations.
The case has also highlighted the vulnerabilities of traditional family structures where behavioural changes often go unaddressed. Neighbours and relatives recalled earlier incidents but admitted they never connected them to deliberate wrongdoing, given the perceived trust within households.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Poonam has been taken into custody and faces multiple charges, including murder under the Indian Penal Code. Authorities are preparing to reopen the cases of all previously drowned children, now reclassified as homicides rather than accidents.
Police teams are gathering forensic evidence, witness statements, and medical records to build a comprehensive charge sheet that reflects the serial nature of the crimes. Given the gravity of the offences and the vulnerability of the victims, the case is expected to be tried under strict judicial scrutiny.
Meanwhile, child rights organisations have urged for systemic reforms, calling for improved family counselling access, school-level psychological monitoring, and greater vigilance in cases of repeated child deaths within extended families.
A Wake-Up Call for Society
This Panipat case stands as a grim reminder of the hidden dangers that can lurk even within trusted family circles. It underlines the importance of awareness, mental health support, and vigilance in protecting children from harm, even from unexpected sources.
The shocking revelations have triggered nationwide discussions about emotional health, jealousy-driven crimes, and the need for stronger mechanisms to detect irregular behavioural patterns. As the investigation proceeds, the hope remains that justice for the young victims will not only expose the truth but also prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The case continues to unfold, and authorities are expected to release further findings as the investigation progresses. The tragedy has left a profound impact on the community, serving as a stark lesson in recognising warning signs and ensuring the safety of the most vulnerable.
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About the Author:
Harshit Raj
