Bengaluru 4-year-old who was allegedly raped and assaulted dies in hospital

A 4-year-old girl who had been allegedly raped and brutally assaulted died of her injuries in Bengaluru’s St John’s Hospital on Saturday as per a report by Arun Dev in The Quint. 

Initial medical reports suggested injuries to the girl’s private parts, which had been inflicted by a sharp object, the report says. 

The exact nature of the injuries will be determined by police after the post-mortem report. 

Police say that the girl was unwell following an infection after the sexual assault and was also under-nourished and believe that delay in providing help led to her death. 

The alleged rapist and another woman who ill-treated the girl have been arrested.

SD Sharanappa, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South told The Quint that two suspects, Mallikarjuna and Chandana, have been arrested under relevant sections of POCSO and sent to judicial custody.

The alleged rape happened in the third week of August, however came to light only several days later after the girl developed health issues. 

Police said that the family became homeless after the father of the child died a few months ago and the mother who is a domestic help had entrusted care of the child to a relative Chandana. 

“During the two months she stayed with Chandana, the woman has not taken care of the child and has even mistreated her. The four-year-old had ulcers in her stomach and was in poor health,” said Sharanappa.

Mallikarjuna, who is the the prime suspect in the case used to visit the house regularly and allegedly raped the child when Chandana was not at home, the report says.