SHILLONG: A 14-year-old girl who was assaulted while resisting rape attempt died on Monday night even as the investigation is on.
SP (City) Steve Rynjah said the girl passed away around 9pm.
Earlier in the day, when reporters went to meet the relatives, they informed that the girl’s condition suddenly deteriorated on Monday. Those who were in the hospital where the girl was admitted demanded stringent punishment for the accused, Jansing Rani.
“We don’t want him to get away without any punishment. We will not allow him to get bail,” said a cousin of the victim, who is from West Khasi Hills.
The cousin said in the afternoon of July 3, when the girl was washing clothes in a nearby river, Rani approached her “with an intention to harm her”.
“He also tied her feet. She struggled which led him to hit her with a hand hoe on the head,” she said.
The victim’s relatives found her lying in a pool of blood and took her to Ganesh Das Hospital. Later, she was shifted to Woodland Hospital.
On July 5, the victim had narrated the incident to the headmen of her village as well as Rani’s.
In the evening of the same day, the traditional heads took Rani to the police.
The family, which survives on farming, had told reporters about the financial constraints in treating the girl.
The victim’s cousin said exemplary punishment should be meted out to Rani because “it is not only about the incident of my cousin but others also and it seems there is no safety, be it in urban or rural areas”.
Meena Kharkongor, the chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said, “Another innocent soul succumbed due to the injuries inflicted upon her by a lustful man who deserves no mercy. The State Commission vehemently condemns this dastardly act. Deepest condolences to the family. The SCPCR is in constant touch with the police and ensures the family that justice will be done.”
