A chilling case involving the deaths of two newborn children has surfaced in Thrissur district, Kerala, where police have arrested a young couple who had been in a live-in relationship since 2020. The case came to light after the male partner, 25-year-old Bhavin, walked into the Pudukad police station late Saturday night in an intoxicated condition, carrying a bag containing what he claimed were skeletal remains of infants.

Bhavin reportedly told police that the bones were preserved to conduct rituals intended to provide “moksha” for the souls of the deceased children. “He handed over the bag to police, saying these are the bones of the infants. He claimed that the bones were kept for performing rituals so that the souls of the babies get moksha,” confirmed Thrissur Rural SP B. Krishnakumar.

Following the alarming confession, officers immediately launched an overnight investigation, which led to the arrest of Bhavin and his 23-year-old girlfriend, Aneesha, the mother of the babies. According to police, the couple met on Facebook in 2020, when Bhavin was 20 and Aneesha was 18. Although they had plans to marry, the relationship eventually became strained.

Kerala Woman Says Umbilical Cord Caused Newborn’s Death

The first child was born in November 2021. Aneesha initially told investigators that the baby died naturally due to complications during childbirth, specifically because the umbilical cord was wrapped around the infant’s neck. She then buried the baby near her house in Vellikulangara, later digging up the grave to hand over some bones to Bhavin.

However, police suspect foul play. The FIR mentions that the child may have been strangled. Forensic experts have examined the skeletal material, confirming they are likely remains of newborns. “However, a detailed examination will be held as part of the probe,” Krishnakumar added.

The couple’s second child was born in August 2024. Aneesha, during interrogation, allegedly confessed to killing the baby shortly after birth by smothering it when it began crying. The body was later buried by Bhavin near his home in Amballur. “The death of the second baby is being treated as murder,” said SP Krishnakumar.

Jealousy and Revenge Led Man to Expose Baby Murders, Say Police

Police believe the relationship between Bhavin and Aneesha had deteriorated recently. Bhavin reportedly grew suspicious that Aneesha was romantically involved with someone else, especially after he discovered she was using a second mobile phone. This discovery allegedly triggered heated arguments and may have led Bhavin to report the incident to the police out of revenge. Officers also suspect Bhavin kept the remains of the babies as leverage over Aneesha, in case she tried to leave him.

“A team was constituted at midnight to investigate the case, and Aneesha, 23, the babies’ mother, was also taken into custody,” said SP Krishnakumar, adding that a Special Investigation Team led by Chalakudy DySP Biju Kumar has now taken over the inquiry.

The charges against the couple include multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code — including 302 (murder), 315 (act done with intent to prevent child being born alive), 317 (exposure and abandonment of child), 318 (concealment of birth), 201 (destruction of evidence), and 34 (common intention). They have also been booked under provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.

DNA Tests to Confirm Parentage of Infant Remains

DNA testing will be conducted to confirm that the remains indeed belong to Bhavin and Aneesha’s children. Police say gathering evidence may be difficult due to the passage of time since the alleged crimes. “The case will be a challenging one for them as the events happened several months ago. Krishnakumar said the police will do its best to collect maximum evidence.”

In a separate, unrelated case in Maharashtra’s Latur district, a four-year-old girl was killed by her alcoholic father in a violent outburst. Police said the man, identified as Balaji Rathod, strangled his daughter Aarushi using a saree after she asked him for money to buy chocolate. The child’s mother, who had been living with her parents due to marital discord, has demanded capital punishment for Rathod. Police have filed a murder charge and arrested him.