Karnataka girl’s death: ‘Victim may not have been sexually assaulted’

The minister’s comments come even as probe has indicated that the Class VIII girl might not have been abducted and sexually assaulted as claimed in a police complaint filed by her parents. Sources said a preliminary post mortem had not revealed signs of sexual assault and physical injuries.

“Local witnesses claim that the girl was talking to a boy when a relative rebuked her for speaking to him despite her parents’ warnings. She was further reprimanded by her parents,” they said.

The sources said that after being scolded, the girl consumed some toxic substance at home. Her parents then rushed her to a local government hospital and complained that she had been vomitting frequently.

“In a sexual assault case, the doctors are legally bound to inform the police immediately. But, in this case the examining doctor did not find any marks of assault or injury and referred the victim to another hospital,” a police official said.

The girl died at a hospital in Manipal in coastal Karnataka on Friday. Her parents then filed a police complaint, alleging that three youths had abducted her on Wednesday and assaulted her sexually. They also alleged that the trio forced her to consume poison and left her on the road.

Following the girl’s death, local groups led by BJP leaders including MLA Araga Jnanendra called for a bandh in the area, alleging that a member of a minority community was involved in the incident.