An individual from Andhra Pradesh poisons his 18-month-old daughter with dark skin: A chilling story highlighting the plight of girl children

In a shocking event, a man poisoned his 18-month-old daughter because she had dark skin. The man, named Mahesh from Petasannegandla village in Andhra Pradesh, gave poisoned religious offering to the girl named Akshaya. Later, he told his wife Shravani to lie and say that the baby died from seizures. However, the police have filed a case against him, and an investigation is ongoing.

Shravani married Mahesh three years ago and had a baby girl with him. However, Mahesh and his family didn’t accept the baby due to her dark skin. They mistreated her because of her complexion, and Shravani was kept away from her child.

On March 31, Shravani found her baby unconscious with a bleeding nose and took her to Larempudi government hospital. Sadly, the doctors declared the baby dead.

The baby was quickly buried without investigation. But Shravani’s mother grew suspicious and involved the village council. Shravani then came forward and disclosed the abuse, filing a police complaint. She revealed that Mahesh had attempted to kill the baby before by hitting her against a wall, locking her up, and trying to drown her.

The AP State Child Rights Protection Commission intervened, ordering a full investigation. The body of Akshaya has been exhumed for post-mortem.

This incident highlights the challenges faced by girl children in India. A father killed his baby daughter because of her dark skin, showing society’s narrow-mindedness. Even before birth, girls face discrimination in our society. Why are girls not allowed to live freely without societal expectations? Why is dark skin considered unacceptable?

The bias against dark-skinned girls comes from a society that worships dark-skinned goddesses but discriminates against dark-skinned women. This mindset was influenced by British colonialism, which promoted fair skin over dark skin.

Even after decades of independence, why do we still hold onto these colonial beliefs? Dark skin is natural for Indians, and everyone should be accepted regardless of their skin tone.

The obsession with skin color persists, even among educated people. Girls are judged based on their appearance from a young age, affecting their self-esteem and future prospects. But regardless of skin color, girls deserve empowerment and opportunities for a secure and happy life.

Let’s stop seeing girls only as potential brides and instead focus on empowering them to live on their terms, irrespective of societal standards.

Repurposed article originally published in She The People