Kalahandi: A woman allegedly strangulated her three-year-old stepdaughter to death at Lakhpadar village under Narla Police limits in Kalahandi district on Saturday.
The victim has been identified as Nandini, the daughter of one Jugeswar Sa and his first wife Gandharbi. The accused, Asha Sahoo, is his second wife whom he married after the death of Gandharbi.
According to police sources, Jugeswar returned home late in the night from work and enquired about the child. Asha told him that she had slept off. When he went to check on her, he found blood around her mouth. He tried to wake her, but in vain.
On being informed, Narla police reached the spot and seized the body for postmortem. The father and the stepmother have been detained for questioning.
Meanwhile, the child’s maternal uncle has lodged a complaint with police, alleging that the woman had strangulated his niece to death.