Cyclone Dana: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Oct 24: On Thursday, police detained a woman for allegedly beating her 14-year-old stepdaughter, Tulasi, to death over a ₹20 expenditure on ‘Dahi Bara’ in Podasahi village, located within the Fathegarh police limits of Nayagarh district, Odisha. Tulasi was a class IX student.
According to reports, Manda Swain from Kalapangi village, who married Sukuta Swain after the death of his first wife, was apprehended while attempting to bury Tulasi’s body in a remote area with the help of family members, presumably to conceal evidence. The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday morning after Manda learned that Tulasi had spent ₹20 on Tuesday.
Sources revealed that Sukuta had previously given one of his daughters from his first marriage to a neighbor, and Tulasi had allegedly faced daily abuse from her stepmother.
Following a complaint lodged by Tulasi’s uncle, police have sent the body for autopsy and detained Manda. “My brother-in-law’s second wife would frequently beat Tulasi. She killed her for spending ₹20 on Dahi Bara. We demand strict action against her,” stated Braja Bandhu Swain, Tulasi’s uncle.
