Mother-In-Law Axed Pregnant Daughter-In-Law To Death Because She Was Unhappy With Her Son's Marriage

An Indian matriarch has been accused of brutally axing her pregnant daughter-in-law to death before fleeing the scene on Sunday, Sept. 12, driven to commit the murder because she was unhappy with her son's marriage.

The incident reportedly happened in Upar Jata village under the Chowka police station area in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. On Sunday, Sept. 12, at around 7 a.m, the accused, Geeta Layak, allegedly attacked and killed her daughter-in-law Bhavani Layak with an ax after they engaged in a heated argument, the Avenue Mail reported.

Deenbandhu Layak, the victim's husband, brought Bhavani home around six months ago and the couple reportedly got married in a temple in April. The unhappy marriage, however, has reportedly resulted in recurring arguments and fights within the family.

Bhavani was found lying in a pool of her own blood and was immediately rushed to the community health center in Chandil by her family members. However, she would be pronounced dead on arrival at the health facility.

After the police officers were alerted of the killing, Chowka Police Station in-charge Dharmraj Singh reportedly reached the village and launched an investigation into the incident. The police are currently on the lookout for Layak who remains at large after fleeing the scene following the heinous murder.

In a similar but unrelated incident, a 48-year-old woman named Anandi Mane allegedly murdered her 30-year-old daughter-in-law Aria Mane by hitting her with a clay planter on her head in Manikpur in Palghar on Dec. 15, 2019, the Indian Express reported.

“Mane was not happy with her elder son’s marriage to Aria, who she believed was too educated and modern,” a senior police inspector said.

“Mane wanted the girl’s name to be changed from Swati to Riya, but she changed it to Aria because she lived in the US with her husband. The mother-in-law was also unhappy with Aria working after marriage, and felt she drove a wedge between her and her son,” he added.

Aria, who had given birth to her daughter six months before the incident, had come to India with her husband just a week before the murder.

“Mane would constantly fight with Aria. On Sunday, after her husband and sons left for a morning walk, she picked up a planter and threw it on Aria, who was sleeping, killing her on the spot,” the inspector said.

Mane then reportedly surrendered herself to the police. However, the authorities could not produce her before the judge as she was admitted to a hospital for overdosing on prescription drugs before coming to the police station. A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged by Aria’s father against Mane.