A young Jain girl from Hyderabad underwent a 68 day fast. She passed away in a Hyderabad hospital two days after she finished her fast.
A 13-year-old girl from Hyderabad died last week after fasting for 68 days for the Jain holy period called Chaumasa. Aradhana, was admitted to a Hyderabad hospital two days after she finished her fast due to a cardiac arrest. Her funeral was celebrated and called 'shobha yatra' — a mark of celebration— which was attended by 600 people.
According to B Sumathi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Zone), a case would be filed after a preliminary inquiry into the incident. As of now, we have made an entry in the general diary, she said.
"The girl was studying 8th class in St Francis School. She was on fast for 68 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 said.
Local NGO Balala Hakkula Sangham (Child Rights Association) had written a letter to Hyderabad Police Commissioner on Friday 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.
Aradhana's family claims that everyone knew the young girl was fasting, and that politicians like Telangana minister Padma Rao Goud, Zaheerabad MP BB Patil were present at grand event for the completion of fasting which is called 'Paarana'.
Child rights activist Shanta Sinha has said that a police complaint must be filed and that the child rights commission must take cognisance.
With agency inputs.
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