Kolkata, Nov 8 : A stepmother has been arrested in West Bengal's Murshidabad district of Sagarpara for allegedly beating a four-year-old girl child to death, the police said on Sunday.
The incident took place in Katabari Sarkarpara area of ​​Sagarpara police station area in Murshidabad.
The stepmother, Mousumi Khatun, has been arrested in the incident.
The name of the deceased child is Farzana Khatun.
The common people of the area expressed anger over the incident. They have demanded death penalty for the accused stepmother.
According to the police, the local child's father lives in Kerala for work.
The child's birth mother left home about three years ago to start a family elsewhere.
Later, the child's father married Mousumi.
Locals alleged that Farzana's stepmother Mousumi Khatun had been subjecting her to extreme physical and mental torture for a long time. She would not feed her properly, nor would she let her go to school. She was also allegedly beaten up several times before.
Initial speculation is that the child was beaten on Saturday night as well.
Later, when the child's physical condition deteriorated, she was taken to Sagarpara Primary Health Centre where doctors declared her dead.
Soon the police were informed. The police have sent the body to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital for autopsy.
The relatives and neighbours of the deceased child have demanded capital punishment for the accused.
Nurefa Bibi, a relative of the deceased child, said, "The stepmother tortured the child every day. She did not feed her properly, beat her up. She would cover her mouth so that the child could not cry. When we went to protest, she would fight with us instead. She would leave the child at home all day, not letting anyone see her."
She also said, "This morning, I saw the child lying in an almost lethargic state, with multiple injuries and bruises on her body. Her mother stood holding the child without telling anyone. When she was taken to the hospital, the doctor declared her dead."
