Obsession to become sarpanch turns man into a killer, father throws 6-year-old daughter into canal

Nanded (The Uttam Hindu): A deeply disturbing incident has emerged from Maharashtra’s Nanded district, shaking public conscience. The desire to contest the sarpanch election reportedly drove a father to kill his own 6-year-old daughter. Police investigations revealed that the accused feared disqualification under the two-child rule applicable to local body elections, as he had three children. To secure his eligibility, he allegedly decided to eliminate one child.

Two-child rule became the obstacle

The accused, 28-year-old Pandurang Kondmangle, a salon owner from Kerur village, had three children—two six-year-old twin daughters and a three-year-old son. He wanted to contest the sarpanch election, but Maharashtra’s Panchayat Raj law bars candidates with more than two children. To avoid disqualification, he allegedly chose to remove one of his daughters.

Conspiracy with the sitting sarpanch

Police said Pandurang did not act alone. The current village sarpanch, Ganesh Shinde, allegedly assisted him. The two initially discussed abandoning the child or giving her up for adoption, but feared future legal trouble as the child’s name appeared on official records. Eventually, they allegedly planned the murder.

Pushed into canal in Telangana

As per the investigation, Pandurang took his daughter on a motorcycle to the Nizamsagar canal in Nizamabad district, Telangana, and pushed her into the water. Farm workers nearby heard a sound and later found the child’s body floating in the canal. Police identified the victim through social media. When questioned, the accused initially claimed he had taken the child for treatment, but later confessed under interrogation. Police have registered a murder case against Pandurang Kondmangle and sarpanch Ganesh Shinde. The investigation is ongoing.