Indian man arrested for trying to bury daughter alive

Indian police have arrested a man for allegedly trying to bury alive his 9-year-old daughter in the northeastern state of Tripura, police said Saturday.

Neighbours alerted the police after they saw Abul Hussain trying to bury his daughter in a pit on Friday in the backyard of his residence in Putia village in Sipahijala district, local police official Uttam Bhaumick said over the phone.

"The neighbour said Abul Hussain tied the girl's hands, taped her mouth and buried her till her neck," Bhaumick said.

The man was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

The girl was admitted to hospital and her condition was serious, Bhaumick said.

The girl's mother was not at home when the incident took place. Police cited neighbours saying Hussain disliked having a girl.

Many Indian families consider girls as economic burdens and sons as breadwinners, which leads to abortions of female foetuses or discrimination against girls by denying them access to education.