Case Closed Against Kin of 13-Yr-Old Jain Girl Who Died After Fast

Aradhana, a student of class 8, fasted for 68 days before she died in October.

Thirteen-year-old Aradhana died two days after completing a 68-day fast in October 2016. (Photo Courtesy: ANI Screengrab)

Probing a 13-year-old girl's death after she undertook a 68-day fast as part of a community ritual in October last year, the police has referred the case as "action dropped" in a court in Hyderabad.

After a complaint in this regard was lodged by a local child rights NGO "Balala Hakkula Sangham" with the Market police station, a case of the culpable homicide not amounting to murder under section 304 (II) of IPC, and under section 75 of the JJ (Juvenile Justice) Act was registered against the parents and other family members of the girl.

The Police subsequently reported the case to the 10th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Secunderabad and referred it as 'Action Dropped', and on Saturday served a notice to the complainant Anuradha Rao, president of the NGO, in this regard, a police official said on Sunday.

In the notice to the complainant, the police said, "Your case has been referred as 'Action Dropped' and that if you want to oppose this report, you will have to do before the court within a week from the date of receipt of this notice".

When contacted, a senior police official on Sunday said, “during the investigation, the allegation of culpable homicide was not proved. As no evidence is available, further action is dropped in the case.”

Rao, in a letter to Hyderabad Police Commissioner, had alleged that the minor, who belonged to a minority community, had died under "suspicious circumstances" on 3 October. She alleged that the girl's parents and other family members made her undertake the fast for 68 days as part of the ritual.

Meanwhile, following the notice, the NGO has alleged that the police are not arresting the accused as they are biased in their favour. The NGO said they will move court seeking a through investigation by a Central agency.

Police had said the girl, a student of class 8 in a private school, was on a fast for 68 days, which ended on 1 October, after which she was on a liquid diet.

According to the police, on the night of 3 October, the girl suddenly fell ill, after which her family members shifted her to a hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead.

Also Read: ‘Don’t Interfere’: Jain Gurus Warn Activists as Girl Dies Fasting