Daijiworld Media Network – Murshidabad

Murshidabad, Nov 14: A nine-year-old girl was allegedly strangled to death over her gold earrings and silver jewellery in West Bengal's Murshidabad district. Police have detained a 15-year-old girl in connection with the incident in the Naoda police station limits.

The victim, identified as Mallika Khatun, was a Class 3 student. Her body was found late Thursday night beneath a wooden cot in a neighbour's house, with her hands and legs tied.

According to the victim's family, Mallika's parents had left home around 10 am on Thursday to seek medical treatment, leaving her alone. During their absence, a 15-year-old girl from the neighbourhood allegedly visited their house and invited Mallika to her home on the pretext of playing together.

When Mallika's parents returned in the evening, they found her missing. They searched the nearby areas with the help of neighbours but could not trace her. The family later approached Naoda police station and lodged a missing-person complaint.

Police launched a search operation following the complaint. After midnight, Mallika's body was found beneath a wooden cot at the neighbour's house. Suspicion fell on the teenager who had allegedly taken her there earlier.

During questioning, police reportedly learnt that the teenager was allegedly tempted by Mallika's jewellery, particularly her gold earrings. The child was also wearing silver ornaments around her neck and on her hands.

Police suspect that the teenager tried to remove the jewellery, but Mallika resisted. She allegedly strangled the child before taking the ornaments.

Police said the detained teenager's mother works in another state, while the girl lives at home with relatives looking after her.

The 15-year-old has been detained in connection with the case. Police are continuing their investigation to establish the sequence of events and ascertain the circumstances surrounding the child's death.