13-year old girl dies after 64-day fast for Jain ritual

A 13-year-old girl died here allegedly after a 64-day fast as part of a community ritual, prompting the city police to launch an enquiry into the incident after a child rights NGO sought a probe.

According to B Sumathi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Zone), a case would be filed after a preliminary inquiry into the incident, as of now, an entry had been made in the general dairy.

Local NGO Balala Hakkula Sangham (Child Rights Association) had on Friday written a letter to Hyderabad Police Commissioner seeking an inquiry into the girl’s death earlier this week.

The NGO alleged that the minor’s family members and community elders made her undertake the fast as part of a ritual.

President of the NGO Anuradha Rao, in her letter, alleged that the minor had died under “suspicious circumstances” on October 3.

“The girl was on a fast for 64 days. It was over on October 1. She was on a liquid diet for the first two days (after the fast).

“On the third night, her blood pressure dipped and she was taken to a private hospital here where she was declared dead. We are talking to the parents and other relatives of the girl. As of now we made a GD entry. An inquiry is going on.

Once something is made out of the inquiry, then we will take action legally,” Sumathi said.

Although the date of the girl’s demise is still unclear, Association President Anuradha Rao, in the letter, claimed that the minor, residing in Pot Bazar of Secunderabad, died on October 3.