Man strangles 5-year-old daughter, dismembers body

By Sumesh Rajan | April 16, 2025

 

illustrative image representing the tragic incident

Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, India — In a deeply disturbing incident that has shocked the nation, a 40-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly strangling his five-year-old daughter to death and dismembering her body in Sitapur district, located in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

The incident reportedly occurred on February 25, 2025, when the accused, identified as Mohit Mishra, allegedly killed his daughter, Tani, in a fit of rage after she defied his orders and visited a neighbour’s house with whom the family had a recent dispute.

According to the police, Mishra was upset over an altercation with his neighbour, identified only as Ramu. The two families had previously shared a close relationship, but tensions arose days before the crime. Following the dispute, Mishra had strictly forbidden his children from visiting the neighbour’s home.

Despite repeated warnings, Tani continued to play with the neighbour’s children. On the evening of February 25, Mishra reportedly saw his daughter returning from Ramu’s house. Enraged, he took her on his motorcycle to a secluded area outside the village. There, he allegedly used her clothing to strangle her to death before disposing of her body in a nearby mustard field.

When Tani was reported missing, Mishra himself lodged a complaint at the Rampur Mathura Police Station. The following day, on February 26, search teams discovered a severed leg and other dismembered body parts in the field, confirming the worst fears of the investigators. The remains were later identified as belonging to Tani.

Police said that wild animals had partially mutilated the body, further complicating the investigation. The autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was strangulation.

During the initial investigation, Mishra was not immediately suspected. He had handed his mobile phone to his wife and gone into hiding, returning only after the post-mortem examination. However, his evasive behaviour raised suspicion. Upon intense questioning by the Special Operations Group (SOG) and local police, he confessed to the crime.

A case has been registered against Mohit Mishra under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He has been arrested and sent to jail pending further investigation.

Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, has witnessed several high-profile criminal cases in recent years, often drawing national and international attention for their brutality and social implications.

Authorities have condemned the crime and assured that justice will be delivered swiftly.