KULOB, November 13, 2010 Asia-Plus -- The Kulob city court has begun to consider criminal proceedings instituted against 33-year-old resident of the village of Chuqurak in Khovaling district, Zulkumor Abdualimova, who is suspected of having killed her 6-year-old stepdaughter Gulri Zarif.

Safar Shodiyev, a chief investigator at the Kulob prosecutor’s office, says criminal proceedings have been instituted against Abdualimova under the provisions of Article 104 (killing) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code.

According to him, the stepmother was always beating Gulri because the girl was complaining to her father about the stepmother.  “On July 19, Abdualimova punched the girl in the face so hard that she fell and struck her head against the concrete ledge.  Gulri died on the spot” the investigator said.