5-year-old Rohtak rape victim ignored by admn, leaders

In a ward next to 21-year-old Rohtak gangrape victim, a five-year-old girl has been battling for life since July 11, when she was brutally raped and left to die by a man of her own village in Kalanaur town of the district.

However, the victim has been ignored by netas, babus and several NGOs that have been visiting the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak, ever since the alleged gangrape of the Dalit girl by the same men for the second time became a burning issue.

Adding to the miseries of the five-year-old, the PGIMS cited police formalities and denied prompt admission to her in the hospital when she had reached there in a critical condition. Having undergone a major surgery, police said she would require two more in the upcoming months as her uterus has been damaged in the incident. The casualty medical officer of the hospital was suspended by the administration for the lapse in treatment.

A case under charges of rape and the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered in the incident.

An 18-year-old man, identified as Jugnoo, of her own village has been arrested. He has confessed to have committed the crime. However, the victim has been given no financial help by the government or the NGOs that have not even bothered to visit her as they called on the other rape victim in the same hospital in Rohtak.

On the other hand, the government has given a financial compensation of Rs 4.2 lakh to the other victim’s family, while other NGOs working for Dalits have promised more.

The five-year-old girl is also a Dalit. As she was raped by a Dalit man so she can’t be compensated under the SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act, officials said.

On being asked, Rohtak deputy commissioner (DC) Atul Kumar said they were yet to get the opinion of the police in the case, and will give her financial compensation only after that.