Odisha: Salipur ‘rape’ victim loses battle for life

Cuttack: The six-year-old girl from Salipur area of Cuttack district, who was allegedly raped, died today after fighting for life for the past eight days at the SCB Medical College and Hospital here.

She was undergoing treatment at the trauma care Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Paediatrics Department of the hospital.

Despite all efforts by a 13-member team of doctors, the minor, who was admitted to the hospital in critical condition on April 21, could not be saved.

The deceased’s father and sister have sought death by hanging for the perpetrator of the crime on her sister.

“I want the culprit to be hanged till death so that no one dares to commit such crime,” said the victim’s sister.

“I have lost my daughter. The culprit should get stringent punishment,” said the victim’s father.

On the very next day of the incident, police arrested one Mohammad Mustafa in connection with the assault on the minor and have forwarded him to court.

“The culprit has been arrested and he has been forwarded to court. Under no circumstances such crimes will be tolerated. Appropriate follow-up action is being taken so that the culprit gets the stringent punishment. The culprit will be also tried for murder,” said Krutibash Jena, ASP, Cuttack (Rural).

Notably, the six-year-old girl, who had gone to a shop near Jagannathpur Nodal Upper Primary school to purchase chocolates at around 6 pm on April 21, had gone missing.

After a frantic search her parents found her lying unconscious near the school at around 7.30 pm in critical condition with tell-tale signs of physical assault on her.

Initially, she was rushed to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Salipur and was later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital after her condition deteriorated.