13-year old Dalit girl raped and killed in Gurgaon; family pressured to cremate body; accused arrested

A 13-year old Dalit girl from West Delhi was allegedly raped and killed by her landlord’s relative, reported the Indian Express. The police has registered an FIR and arrested the accused, while they are still investigating if the landlord and his wife were involved in the crime too. Gurgaon police has registered an FIR for murder and criminal conspiracy, and under the SC/ST Act.

The family, hailing from Bihar, lived on rent in Delhi. The girl’s father, a daily wage labourer, told the Indian Express that his landlord’s wife had suggested that the girl go to work for her brother Praveen at his Gurgaon house, where she had been living for the past month.

The girl’s father said in the FIR, “The landlord’s wife told me that her brother had a younger daughter and my daughter can play with her and stay with the family for some time. She took her on July 17.” He added, “I last spoke to my daughter over the phone 10-15 days ago. She didn’t say much. I wish I could have done something then.”

He told the Indian Express that on August 23 at around 3 pm, Praveen had called him to inform him that his daughter died of food poisoning. And four hours later, they brought the girl’s body in a private ambulance.

He stated in the FIR, “They had wood and pooja items, and they were ready to cremate her. We were clueless… Our neighbours stopped the cremation. They asked us to examine my daughter’s body. When we saw the body, we were shocked. She had injuries on her face and back. We didn’t know they would kill her. We got scared and called the police.”

It was found in the post-mortem that the girl had injuries on her face and private parts and had been raped. The report said that she had died of “asphyxia consequent upon antemortem manual smothering” and that there was “positive evidence of vaginal and anal sexual assault” with all injuries being “antemortem” and “recent in duration”.

The girl’s mother said, “The landlord and his wife lied to us. We respected them and they killed my daughter. I want them to be arrested. On Raksha Bandhan, I called and begged them to give me the address so that I could see my daughter but they refused. I wish I knew what they were doing to my daughter.”

“We sent all details of the PCR call made by the family and post mortem to Gurgaon Police. It was found that the girl was sexually assaulted in Gurgaon and her body was brought to Delhi,” said a senior officer of the Delhi Police.

ACP West, Gurgaon, Rajinder, said, “On the complaint of the parents, we registered a murder case against Praveen and his relatives. The girl’s body was sent for post mortem to a Delhi hospital. We received a report from them saying the girl was sexually assaulted. We have now registered a case under sections of rape and under POCSO Act. Praveen has been arrested.”