Phidim, April 18:

Infuriated that his wife had not borne him a son, Maite Tamang of Ward No 9 in Jhambung VDC of Panchthar district, last night severely beat his wife Dhenu and also killed their seven-month-old daughter by dashing her on a stone.

Dhenu told this daily that for the past seven months he had been torturing her physically and mentally for not bearing him a son. Dhenu said that Maite was hoping that their second child would be a son, but when she gave birth to a daughter, he accused her of her inability to produce sons. Their first child is also a daughter.

Dhenu said Maite had been quarrelling with her since early evening yesterday. “Later, he went to neighbour’s house and drank much, much more than his fill. Around midnight, he returned home totally tipsy and began beating me. After knocking me senseless, he snatched up our child and dashed her on the stone,” she said.

“Police have arrested Maite while Dhenu is undergoing treatment at the Panchthar district hospital here,” Panchthar deputy superintendent of police Tarani Prasad Lamsal said.