Cops file culpable homicide case after girl on 68-day fast dies

A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered in connection with the death of a 13-year-old girl two days after she broke her 68-day fast as part of a community ritual, police said.

“Based on a complaint lodged by a local child rights NGO ‘Balala Hakkula Sangham’ (Child Rights Association) with Market police station, the case was registered under section 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of IPC and section 75 of JJ (Juvenile Justice) Act,” Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Zone) P Y Giri said.

However, police have not booked anybody specifically under the charge.  

In the complaint, the NGO has alleged that the girl’s parents and her family members made her undertake the fast for 68 days as part of a ritual, Inspector M Mattaiah said.

“That is the allegation...we have to verify. Based on investigation, it (details) will come out,” he added.

He said the girl’s parents, who reside at Pot Bazar of Secunderabad, have already been questioned over her death.

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

Police had earlier said, “The girl was on a fast for 68 days. It was over on October 1. She was on a liquid diet for the first two days (after the fast) and on the night of October 3, she suddenly fell ill and her family members shifted her to a hospital where doctors declared her brought dead.”

The girl was a student of class VIII in St Francis School.