Laxmichand Samdariya's flourishing gold business in the Pot Bazar area of Secunderabad, according to his family priest, depended only on one thing: his 13-year-old daughter Aradhana's fast.

Laxmichand believed in this ritual of making his daughter observe fast during the holy period of Chaumasa (July to October) for the Jains to bring good fortunes to the family. Last year, Aradhana skipped her school to fast for 28 consecutive days.

This year, after a 68-day-old fast, Aradhana died before she could even be taken to the hospital. Doctors said starvation and dehydration could be the reasons. On October 1, when a visibly frail Aradhana ended her fast, there were celebrations all over her house. She was dressed up as a queen, made to wear jewellery and the women in the house danced around her.

The celebrations ended soon. Aradhana's condition deteriorated and she died two days later. Achyuta Rao, honorary president, Hakkula Sangam (Child Rights Association), who filed a complaint with the police and sought an inquiry into the case, told dna that even after Aradhana's death, there is no sign of remorse on her parent's faces.

"They believe she died a tapaswini (female ascetic). This is plain murder. She was made to starve for so many days. She could only drink water from sunset to sunrise and did not eat for 68 days," Rao added.

Rao has already written a letter to the Hyderabad police commissioner and demanded the immediate arrest of Aradhana's parents. "Aradhana has a younger sister, too. We fear for her life," he said.

Although the police are yet to lodge an FIR, additional deputy commissioner, Hyderabad (North), D Yadagiri, told dna that a statement of the parents has been recorded. "Her parents are denying that they asked her to undertake a 68-day-old fast. They said that she was asked to fast only for 38 days. And that she voluntarily observed the fast," Yadagiri said.