Jharkhand girl starvation death: Villagers attack mother, probing team claims girl died due to malaria

Jharkhand woman, whose daughter allegedly starved to death because the family’s Aadhaar card was not seeded with ration card, was attacked by villagers and forced to leave her house.

A local activist Taamani Sahu informed the media that the mother of the girl who allegedly starved to death had to escape from her village, Karimati in Jharkhand’s Simdega district, after she was attacked.

Taamani Sahu is the whistleblower of the alleged starvation death of the minor girl.

“She travelled more than eight kilometers to escape the attack,” added Sahu.

According to activists, the attack was orchestrated by the PDS provider.

Simdega deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri said, “I have received complaints regarding the attack on Devi. We are verifying the facts and a probe has been ordered.”

“I have directed the district police to provide security to Devi and family,” said Bhajantri.

The district commissioner also told the media that villagers have claimed that Devi was not attacked by anyone.

Sahu further informed the media that she travelled all the way till she got shelter at Sahu’s residence.

Koyli Devi’s 11-year-old daughter Santoshi Kumari had died on September 28 after allegedly starving for four days.

According to reports her family was struck off the government welfare rolls for not linking Aadhaar with ration card.

Also read: Girl dies after being denied ration for non-linking of Aadhaar, mother says she died saying ‘Bhat Bhat’

After Santoshi’s death due to starvation was reported in media, the Jharkhand government directed a probe into the incident. State Food Minister Saryu Roy also directed that Aadhaar card linkage not mandatory to get rations.

However, three member probe team formed by the administration denied Santoshi’s death due to starvation and claimed that the death of the girl was due to malaria.

However, activists quoting Devi disputed the probing team’s claim and said, “My daughter was crying for ‘bhaat’ (rice) while breathing last. She did not die of malaria."