8-yr-old rape victim dies after prolonged illness, case booked

CHENNAI: An eight-year-old girl, who was allegedly raped by her relatives when she lived in Villupuram, died due to prolonged illness in her house in KK Nagar. The police have registered an unnatural death, while her mother alleged that her illness was due to the sexual assault.

Based on her mother’s complaint six months ago, the Villupuram police had booked a case against 16 persons under Pocso Act and arrested 14. They had also filed the charge sheet.

On Thursday evening, when her daughter did not come out of the toilet for a long time, the woman broke open the door. She found the girl lying unconscious inside the toilet.

Though she was rushed to a private hospital, she was declared dead on arrival by the medical team there. Her body was then taken to the Royapettah Government Hospital for post-mortem examination and the KK Nagar police registered a case under Section 174 (unnatural death) of IPC.

“Though she was sexually abused two years ago, we are not sure if her death is connected to the harassment. Only after we get the autopsy report will we know the cause of her death,” said officials.

In 2017, the victim’s mother had separated from her husband, and was living in Puducherry. She left her two daughters, then aged 3 and 5, in her mother’s house in Tindivanam.

In June 2019, her elder daughter fainted at school. During medical examination, it was found that she was sexually assaulted repeatedly. After the doctors informed the helpline in Puducherry, inquiries revealed that both her daughters were repeatedly raped and sexually abused by her relatives and friends for more than two years.

“It happened when the girls were under the care of their grandmother,” said officials. Based on the mother’s complaint, the Brahmadesam police booked 16 persons under Pocso Act. The case is still going on in Tindivanam court; the arrested persons came out on bail couple of months ago,” officials added.

Fearing for the life of her daughters, the woman had shifted to Chennai where she worked at a private company.