lunchbox

Renuka

overpowered

Hospital alerts police over girl’s injuries; family asks cops to forgive her, claim they can sort out the issueSanjana (name changed), like any other 16-year-old, would shun herwhile at college. The second-year PUC student would get into bitter fights with her mother over this. A week ago, her mother packed Bisibelebath for her lunch. Sanjana had kept her lunchbox in a friend’s bag and forgotten all about it. Three days later, she brought it home and her mother found the rotting mess. This triggered the latest in the long line of assaults Sanjana had suffered at the hands of her mother. This time she sustained injuries serious enough to land in a hospital.According to the complaint filed by Sanjana’s father, his wife(name changed) fights frequently with him and with their daughter over petty issues. They are subjected to filthy abuse and the girl is physically assaulted regularly. On August 24, Sanjana was at home with her mother and a trivial fight led to her being beaten up severely. When her father returned, he got into a fight with Renuka. The next morning, the teenager was beaten again with a broom, slippers, a clothes hanger and other things. Her mother raked her face with her nails too.The father tried to stop Renuka. Shehim and continued her assault. Sanjana sustained injuries. She was taken to a private hospital nearby where the doctors alerted the police about the incident.Hanumanthanagar police rushed to the hospital took the statement from Sanjana and her father. They visited the house and enquired Renuka about the incident. She said that the recent assault on Sanjana was over her not having lunch in college and bringing back the lunchbox untouched. Though Renuka asked her to eat something, Sanjana ignored her and Renuka lost patience.The police have taken up the case under Juvenile Justice Act and other IPC sections. However, the mother has got the interim relief with her daughter and husband asking police to forgive her. They claim they will be able to sort the issue on their own.Sanjana’s father, who later wanted to withdraw the complaint, claimed these are not serious fights. “Renuka felt very bad about beating Sanjana up so badly. She did not eat for two days and fell sick,” he said.“I do not want any ongoing issues in the house to affect my daughter’s education. I have arranged for her to stay in a paying guest accommodation close to college. She will continue studying from there for another six months. I have asked my wife not to interfere in her life till she finishes her studies,” the father added.‘Now the family doesn’t want any complaint. Since we have registered an FIR, the complainant and victim must go to court and take back their plaint. We may close the case. We don’t want the relation between the mother and daughter to worsen,” said an investigating officer.