A 40-year-old man allegedly set ablaze his disabled daughter in the middle of a road following a quarrel with his family.
The incident occurred in Bandur, a remote village in Malavalli taluk on Saturday evening.
The victim, P. Nirmala (8), a primary school student, died on the spot. According to residents of the village, Nirmala’s father, Prakash, a farmer, was inebriated at the time of the incident. He reportedly killed his daughter to teach his family members “a lesson” for refusing to give him his share of the property.
His wife and other family members had been refusing to divide the property because they alleged that he was an alcoholic.
A week ago, he left his house and began living in a hut in his sugarcane fields on the outskirts of the village. On Saturday, he went to his house and demanded his share of the property. After his demand was rejected again, he carried away his daughter, who was playing near the house, poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze.
The incident came to light 20 minutes later when some people who were returning to the village saw him sitting in front of the charred body.
“We are shocked. The accused was under the influence of alcohol. We have arrested him and are questioning him,” Koushalendra Kumar, Mandya Superintendent of Police, told The Hindu .
