Tragic! Teen girl dies after 64-day fast for community ritual; NGO demands probe

According to police, a case would be filed after a preliminary inquiry into the incident, as of now, an entry had been made in the general dairy.

The victim's father / Pic- ANI

Hyderabad: In a tragic incident, a 13-year-old girl died here after allegedly undertaking a 64-day fast as part of a community ritual, raising concerns about children's welfare.

"No father wants her daughter to die, she has performed this ritual earlier as well but this time her body reacted differently," her father Laxmi Chand said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Zone) B Sumathi said that an entry has been made in the general dairy and a case would be filed after inquiry.

Local NGO Balala Hakkula Sangham (Child Rights Association) had yesterday written a letter to Hyderabad Police Commissioner seeking an inquiry into the girl's death earlier this week.

The NGO alleged that the minor's family members and community elders made her undertake the fast as part of a ritual.

President of the NGO Anuradha Rao, in her letter, alleged that the minor had died under "suspicious circumstances" on October 3.

"The girl was on a fast for 64 days. It was over on October 1. She was on a liquid diet for the first two days (after the fast).

"On the third night, her blood pressure dipped and she was taken to a private hospital here where she was declared dead. We are talking to the parents and other relatives of the girl. As of now we made a GD entry. An inquiry is going on. Once something is made out of the inquiry, then we will take action legally," Sumathi told PTI.

Although the date of the girl's demise is still unclear, Association President Anuradha Rao, in the letter, claimed that the minor, residing in Pot Bazar of Secunderabad, died on October 3.

(With agency inputs)