13-year-old Jain girl dies after fasting for 68 days, parents booked for culpable homicide

The parents and other family members of a 13-year-old girl, who died after undertaking a 68-day fast as part of a community ritual, have been booked on the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder for causing her death, said police.

"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 told PTI.

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

He said that in view of the complainant accusing the girl's parents and other family members, the case has been registered against them. "That is the allegation...we have to verify. Based on investigation, it (details) will come out," the officer 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 last, 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 a private school.