Even as citizens’ groups continue to protest the increase in molestation and rape of minors, more disturbing news filters in from various parts of India. Worse, politicians and their supporters refuse to see beyond their short political noses and vote bank politics.

Cuttack: (Orissa/Odisha) :The eight-day-long battle for survival of the six-year-old, who was allegedly raped at Salipur, ended at the SCB Medical College and Hospital here on Sunday.

The minor, whose condition was critical ever since her admission to the hospital here, died following a cardiac arrest, doctors said.

Her death comes at a time when Orissa is witnessing a political upheaval over several alleged incidents of rape, including the Kunduli case and the gang-rape of a 14-year-old girl in Jagatsinghpur on Friday.

Partisan politics over the incidents continue as both the Congress and the BJP ( who are in the opposition) create  ruckus in the Assembly over issue of increasing incidents of rape of minor girls in the state.

The minor girl was found unconscious on the verandah of a school at a village in Salipur police station area after dusk on April 21.

Chocolate wrappers collected from the spot indicated that the accused had lured her to the spot with toffees, say police sources.

The police suspect that the rapist was from the same village as the girl, and was known to her.

Her family members had rushed the girl to the hospital on the same night. She had injuries in her head, face, neck, chest and private parts. There were also signs of strangulation in her neck.

Since her admission, doctors here had kept her on ventilator support at the paediatric intensive care unit of the hospital.

A 13-member medical board was monitoring her condition, which continued to worsen over the past few days. Her complications involved severe damage to the brain and loss of consciousness and capacity to breathe.

Confirming her death, SCB superintendent Shyama Kanungo said: “The alleged rape victim from Salipur was undergoing treatment at the paediatric intensive care unit. She had a cardiac arrest and was declared dead at 4.45pm.”

The police  arrested one Md Mustaq, 28, in connection with the case. The man is in Salipur sub-jail.

Salipur police had registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. “It will now be converted to a case of rape and murder,” said a police officer.

Minor raped
A 45-year-old man, Ranjan Nayak, allegedly raped a four-year-old girl at Barunadiha village in Kendrapara’s Rajkanika police limits on April 24.

The incident came to light on Sunday following a complaint lodged by the minor’s father, said inspector of Rajkanika police station Sandhyarani Behera.

A search is on to nab the alleged rapist, who also hails from Barunadiha, she added.

  crime, naked truth