Police detained a woman after her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter was allegedly killed by having her throat slit at Kalaruka area under Sylhet on Friday morning.

The deceased was identified as Maimuna Jannat Toha, aged one year and eight months, daughter of Amir Ali of Kalaruka village in Sadar upazila.

The detained woman is the child’s mother, Subina Begum, 25.

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Police and local sources said Amir Ali left home for Fajr prayers early Friday when the incident occurred. During that time, Subina allegedly slit the throat of her daughter with a sharp cutting weapon kept inside the house.

After returning from the mosque, the child’s father found the body of his daughter inside the house. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Deputy Commissioner (North) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police Saiful Islam said Subina did not immediately respond to police questioning.

“She will be questioned once she becomes normal. Then it will be possible to know whether there were any other reasons behind the incident,” he said.

Police said preliminary information suggests that Subina had been suffering from mental health problems and was undergoing treatment.

Jalalabad Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shamsul Habib said the exact reason behind the incident is being investigated.

The child’s father said preparations were underway to file a case over the incident after consulting family members.