Hyderabad: Parents booked for death of girl who died after fast

A case was booked on Sunday against the parents of Aradhana Samdariya, and others, at the Market police station in Hyderabad, after the 13-year-old died following a 68-day fast.

Aradhana, a Class VIII student of St. Francis High School, Secunderabad, had been forced to fast for 68 days by her parents, family members and elders from the Jain community to which she belonged.

The case was booked under Section 304 part-II of the IPC that deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and also under Section 75 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which deals with wilful neglect of a child by a guardian causing unnecessary mental or physical suffering.

Child rights NGO Balala Hakkula Sangham registered the case with the Market police.

The hard copy of the complaint was earlier emailed to the Hyderabad police commissioner.

The NGO also released an appeal on Sunday to advocates asking them not to provide legal support to Aradhana’s parents or gurus.

When contacted, Aradhana’s grandfather Manekchand Samdariya said, “Aradhana was not forced to undergo fasting. Her parents are in trauma not just because they lost their child in the tragic incident but also due to wrong allegations being made against them. We have moral support from the Jain community in Hyderabad and are planning on how to take legal recourse.”

Mr Prakash Luniya, trustee of Shri Rajasthan Jain Swetambar Murtipujak Sangh, Secunderabad, said, “Baseless allegations are being made against not just the parents but the entire community; our religion itself has come under attack because of that. There will be a large gathering of elders from the Jain community on Monday to discuss a further course of action. We are with the parents as they did not force the girl into fasting.”