A 10-year-old girl died and her 11-year-old sister was left seriously injured after their father allegedly hung them upside down overnight in Banpuri village in Atpadi taluka of Maharashtra’s Sangli district. The accused, identified as Dadu Haibat Yamgar, reportedly tied the girls’ hands and legs and suspended them from an iron angle inside their home around 5 pm on Wednesday after neighbours suspected the children of stealing money.
The girls remained hanging through the night despite crying for help and asking for water. They were untied only the next morning, when their grandfather intervened and rushed them to hospital. The younger child was declared dead, while the elder sister later regained consciousness and narrated the ordeal to doctors, prompting a police complaint. Police have since arrested the father and registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and officials say a detailed investigation is underway.
Brutal Punishment Over Theft Suspicion
According to police, the shocking incident unfolded in the family’s modest home when the father allegedly decided to “punish” his daughters after hearing accusations from neighbours that they had stolen money from a relative. In a horrifying act of violence, he reportedly tied their hands and legs and hung them upside down from a metal beam or iron angle in the house.
The children remained suspended for several hours reportedly through the night while pleading for water and relief from the pain. Investigators said family members, including the girls’ mother and grandparents, were present in the house but were allegedly threatened by the father not to intervene.
When the girls were finally untied the next morning, both were unconscious and were rushed to a nearby hospital. The younger girl was declared dead, while the elder sister survived and later described the incident to doctors, which led medical authorities to alert the police and initiate a criminal investigation.
Police officials confirmed that the accused father has been taken into custody and that further investigation is ongoing to determine the exact sequence of events and the charges that will be filed. Authorities are also examining the role of others present in the house at the time and whether any attempts were made to conceal the crime before it was reported.
The case has shocked residents of the village and triggered widespread outrage, with many questioning how such extreme violence against children could take place within a family home.
Incident Came to Light After Survivor Spoke Out
Initial reports suggest that the truth about the abuse surfaced only after the elder sister regained consciousness at the hospital and narrated the horrific details of what had happened. According to investigators, there were attempts by family members to conduct the younger girl’s last rites quietly before authorities were informed.
However, medical staff reportedly became suspicious and alerted the police after learning about the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. Police then reached the village, detained the father and began recording statements from family members and neighbours.
Investigators are also probing allegations that the accused threatened relatives who tried to intervene and prevent the punishment. Reports indicate that the grandfather ultimately untied the children the next morning after the father left the house or when the situation escalated, prompting the emergency trip to hospital.
Officials say the surviving child’s testimony will be crucial in establishing the timeline of events and confirming the allegations of torture. The case has drawn intense attention across the state, highlighting ongoing concerns around domestic violence and child abuse within households.
Local residents and child-rights advocates have expressed deep shock and grief over the tragedy. Many have pointed out that such incidents often remain hidden within homes until severe harm occurs, making early intervention extremely difficult. Experts say the case underscores the urgent need for greater awareness of children’s rights, stronger reporting mechanisms for suspected abuse, and better support systems within communities so that vulnerable children can receive timely help.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The heartbreaking death of a young child in Sangli is a stark reminder that violence against children is often carried out in the name of discipline, suspicion, or social pressure. Yet no circumstance whether anger, accusation, or frustration can justify cruelty that strips children of their dignity, safety and right to life. Parenting rooted in fear and punishment can leave lifelong scars, and in the worst cases, lead to tragedies like this one.
As a society, we must move beyond silence around domestic violence and recognise that protecting children is a shared responsibility. Families, neighbours, teachers, healthcare workers and local authorities all play a crucial role in identifying warning signs and ensuring that children have safe avenues to seek help.
