Even as her testimony in a local court resulted in her father’s arrest last year and brought scathing criticism from her family members,a 14-year-old girl has again found herself in an insecure situation now by deposing against her grandfather.
Since she accused her father and grandfather of being responsible for her mother’s suicide last year,she has been facing humiliation from her grandfather,who is her sole caretaker in the city.
For the girl,who yearns for her mother’s love,bringing her father and grandfather under the scanner was justifiable.
“I miss my mother a lot. I will never forgive anyone who was responsible for her death,” she added. Being an eyewitness to her mother’s death,she deposed against her father in the court of Additional Session Judge Shalini Nagpal,last year,which led to his arrest. Last week,she recorded her statement against her grandfather.
“After my father was taken to jail,my grandfather turned very abusive. He has been belittling me even more ever since I gave a statement against him last Saturday,” said the girl. She has not even been provided any police protection,despite the fact that she has been living alone with her grandfather. “I have not been asked by the police if I require protection,and so I have to live here with my grandfather,” said the girl,who is a class IX student of Government Modal School,Sector 38.
Breaking down several times in court she recalled the incident of August 1,when her mother was physically harassed just before she committed suicide. She was the sole eyewitness to the incident.
While giving her statement in the court,she said,“My father used to threaten my mother of setting her on fire. Usually coming back home in an inebriated condition,he used to beat her up and threaten to kill her.” Eldest of three siblings,she lives alone with her grandfather “My younger brother and sister are with my relatives,” she added.
The public prosecutor said it was one of those rare cases where a child witness,who was residing with the accused (her grandfather) chose to speak the truth in court.
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