Two, including a woman, were arrested for the murder of a six-year-old girl by the Alwal police on Monday (May 19, 2026) in Old Alwal.
The accused were identified as Rekha, the girl’s mother, and Bonagiri Saikumar. Police said the duo were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
According to the police, six-year-old Tanvika was reported missing by family members on the night of May 16 from their residence in Old Alwal. Her body was later recovered from an overhead water tank on the terrace of the house.
Based on the complaint, the Alwal police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and launched an investigation.
During the investigation, police found that Rekha had married her distant relative Raju in 2020. The couple had reportedly been living separately following marital discord after the birth of their daughter.
Police said Rekha later developed a relationship with her neighbour, Saikumar. Investigators alleged that the two planned to marry, but faced opposition from Saikumar’s family owing to Rekha’s marital status and the presence of her daughter.
According to the police, the duo believed the child was an obstacle to their relationship and conspired to kill her about a week before the incident.
Investigators said the pair initially considered pushing the child into Alwal Lake but abandoned the idea due to the presence of people in the area. They then decided to drown her in the overhead water tank at the residence.
On May 16, when no other family members were present, Rekha took Tanvika to the terrace under the pretext of playing and drowned her in the tank before returning downstairs and claiming the child had gone missing.
Police said Rekha later confessed during questioning that she had killed her daughter under the influence and pressure of Saikumar. Officials said the case was cracked through statements of family members and other corroborative evidence.
Published – May 20, 2026 11:59 am IST
