Chinese woman tortures step-daughter to death

Beijing, May 17 (IANS) A woman in China's Shanxi province has been detained for allegedly torturing her seven-year-old step-daughter to death.

According to the autopsy report, the girl, identified as Xiao Ran, had bruises and burns all over her body and blood filled her belly which suffered blunt blows. Doctors said she died of septic shock due to abdomen infections, Shanghai Daily reported.

The woman surnamed Li was also found to have stabbed the girl's palm, back and abdomen with an awl - a long pointed spike - bashed her face with a board, tied her neck with a rope, and burned her lower back.

Li would always lock her room before torturing the little girl so as to avoid getting heard by neighbours, said the girl's grandmother.

The girl's biological father admitted having noticed her injuries but never paid serious thought to that.

The revelation has triggered nationwide outrage with many internet users questioning why no one took any action to stop the woman's atrocity past two years.