A 40-year-old woman, Uzma, allegedly strangled her 11-year-old daughter Alia to death in a fit of fury on Wednesday in Ghaziabad’s Kanchan Park Colony, police said, detaining the mother as the chilling case unfolds. The incident, reported at 10:06 PM IST under Loni police station limits, stemmed from a clash over disobedience.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Siddhartha Gautam said Alia begged to visit her aunt’s house, but Uzma forbade it. When Alia defied her, Uzma snapped. “Enraged, she beat Alia, lifted her by the neck, and slammed her to the floor, killing her instantly,” Gautam recounted. Police arriving at the scene found injury marks crisscrossing Alia’s body—a grim testament to the violence.

Uzma and Alia were alone at home, with Uzma’s husband and son away in Gujarat. Alia’s grandfather told police Uzma has been under treatment for a mental health condition, hinting at a deeper struggle. The family’s claim adds a layer of complexity, though police await a formal complaint to firm up charges.

For now, Uzma’s in custody, and Alia’s body is off for a post-mortem to nail down the cause of death. The tragedy has stunned the quiet colony, spotlighting a mother-daughter spat turned fatal. Was it a momentary lapse or a breaking point long in the making? As investigators dig, Ghaziabad grapples with a haunting question: what drives a parent to such an edge?