Murshidabad stepmother arrested for beating 4-year-old girl to death
Synopsis
A four-year-old girl, Farzana Khatun, was allegedly beaten to death by her stepmother in Murshidabad, West Bengal, on the night of 8 November. Locals say the abuse was prolonged and systematic — the child was denied food, isolated, and repeatedly beaten while her father worked away in Kerala. The stepmother, Mousumi Khatun, has been arrested; neighbours are demanding capital punishment.
Key Takeaways
Farzana Khatun , aged 4 , was allegedly beaten to death by her stepmother in Katabari Sarkarpara, Murshidabad on the night of 8 November 2025 .
Stepmother Mousumi Khatun has been arrested by Sagarpara police .
The child's father works in Kerala ; her biological mother had left the family about three years ago .
Locals alleged prolonged abuse — the child was reportedly denied food, barred from school, and beaten on multiple occasions prior to her death.
The body has been sent to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Residents and relatives are demanding capital punishment for the accused.
A stepmother has been arrested in West Bengal's Murshidabad district for allegedly beating a four-year-old girl to death on Saturday night, 8 November 2025, police confirmed on Sunday. The deceased child, Farzana Khatun, was declared dead at Sagarpara Primary Health Centre after her condition deteriorated following an alleged assault.
What Happened
The incident took place in the Katabari Sarkarpara area under the jurisdiction of Sagarpara police station in Murshidabad. The accused stepmother, Mousumi Khatun, has been taken into custody. According to police, Farzana's father works in Kerala and was away from home at the time. The child's biological mother had reportedly left the family approximately three years ago, after which the father married Mousumi.
Pattern of Alleged Abuse
Locals alleged that Mousumi Khatun had subjected Farzana to prolonged physical and mental abuse. According to neighbours and relatives, the child was reportedly denied food, prevented from attending school, and allegedly beaten on multiple occasions prior to her death. Residents alleged the stepmother would cover the child's mouth to suppress her cries and kept her isolated from others in the neighbourhood.
A relative of the deceased, Nurefa Bibi, recounted: '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.'
Nurefa Bibi added: '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.'
Medical and Legal Proceedings
After doctors at Sagarpara Primary Health Centre declared Farzana dead, police were alerted and the body was sent to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The autopsy is expected to confirm the cause of death and the extent of injuries. Investigators are likely to record statements from neighbours and relatives as part of the probe.
Community Anger and Demands
Residents of Katabari Sarkarpara expressed strong anger following the incident. Relatives and neighbours of the deceased child have demanded capital punishment for the accused. The death has prompted calls for stronger child protection measures, particularly in households where children are left in the care of stepparents while biological parents migrate for work. This case comes amid recurring reports of child abuse across West Bengal, renewing scrutiny of enforcement mechanisms under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and related welfare legislation.
As the investigation continues, all eyes are on the outcome of the autopsy and whether further charges will be filed against the accused.
Point of View
Left behind with stepparents or distant relatives, fall through every safety net. Sagarpara's anganwadi and school systems, if functioning as intended, should have flagged a child denied food and barred from school long before her death. The community's demand for capital punishment reflects fury, but the structural question is why months of alleged visible abuse went unaddressed by any official mechanism. West Bengal's child protection infrastructure needs to answer that before the next case reaches a hospital with the same outcome.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the child killed in Murshidabad and what happened?
The deceased child is Farzana Khatun , a four-year-old girl from the Katabari Sarkarpara area of Sagarpara in Murshidabad, West Bengal. She was allegedly beaten by her stepmother on the night of 8 November 2025 and was declared dead upon arrival at Sagarpara Primary Health Centre.
Who has been arrested in connection with the death?
The stepmother, Mousumi Khatun , has been arrested by Sagarpara police . She is alleged to have subjected Farzana to prolonged physical and mental abuse before the fatal assault.
Where was the child's father during the incident?
Farzana's father was working in Kerala at the time of the incident. The child's biological mother had reportedly left the family approximately three years ago , after which the father married Mousumi Khatun.
What do local residents and relatives want?
Residents, neighbours, and relatives of the deceased have demanded capital punishment for the accused stepmother. They allege the abuse was systematic and known to the community for a long time.
What is the current status of the investigation?
The body of Farzana Khatun has been sent to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital for a post-mortem examination to establish the official cause of death. Police are continuing their investigation, and further charges may follow depending on autopsy findings.
