The victim’s kin and villagers hold stir seeking action against the rapists in Harur

DHARMAPURI: Five days after she was raped by two men, a 17-year-old girl died of injuries , triggering protests from her family members who faulted doctors at Dharmapuri Government Medical College & Hospital for poor treatment, and police for failure to arrest the suspects.

The Scheduled Tribe (ST) girl, a Class XII student, was staying in a government hostel far away from her home, as her tribal village near Hasur did not have adequate academic facilities. She was on a visit to her village, when she was assaulted by Sathish, 24 and Ramesh, 23.

According to police, the men sexually assaulted her when she stepped out to relieve herself on Monday evening.

Immediately after the incident, the girl informed her parents who lodged a complaint with the Kottapatti police. She was then taken to the hospital for treatment.

The girl’s health condition had been deteriorating since Tuesday, and she died of injuries on Saturday. The victim’s distraught father said doctors at the government hospital did not give proper treatment to his daughter. He also alleged that police did not take any step to arrest the accused even five days after the incident. “Parents of one of the accused sell illicit liquor and were close to local police,” he told TOI. He also alleged that the parents gave bribe to policemen for not arresting the accused in the rape case.

Rape of minor: Separate team to look out for suspects

Meanwhile, the kin of the deceased and other villagers protested in Harur town demanding action against the rapists. They also demanded that police invoke appropriate provisions and to ascertain the real cause of the girl’s death.

Harur DSP Sellapandian and other revenue officials held peace talks with the protesters until Saturday late evening. When contacted, Salem range DIG T Senthil Kumar told TOI that a separate team had been formed to nab the suspects. “We also assured the protesters that a highly qualified team of doctors will be deputed to perform autopsy and the entire process will be videographed,” he said.

In addition to the Pocso Act provisions, police registered a case Section 174 of CrPC as the death had occurred under suspicious circumstances.

