Hours after the 13-year-old victim of the Powai gang rape passed away in hospital yesterday, the police exhumed the body of his 10-year-old friend who was also allegedly assaulted in the same incident
The 10-year-old was buried at Chand Shah Dargah Kabristan without a post-mortem
Hours after the 13-year-old victim of the Powai gang rape passed away in hospital yesterday, the police exhumed the body of his 10-year-old friend who was also allegedly assaulted in the same incident. Cops are now awaiting the post-mortem results of the younger boy before including him as a victim in the FIR.
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As mid-day had reported earlier, the gang rape came to light after the 13-year-old consumed rat poison. When he was taken to hospital, doctors discovered that he had been sexually assaulted. He then revealed that he and his friend - the deceased 10-year-old - attempted suicide after they were raped and threatened by a group of boys.
By the time cops tracked down the other victim, he had already died. Shockingly, doctors said he had died of dehydration, so no autopsy was performed. The 10-year-old's father said that the boy had never mentioned rape to him.
No statement from victim
The cops were so far waiting for the second victim to recover so they could take down his statement, but his intestines had been badly damaged by the toxin, and he succumbed to the injuries at 4.30 am in KEM Hospital. His father told mid-day, "The doctors informed me at 4:30 am that he died due to kidney failure. His condition had not improved at all during the treatment."
Now, the police will have to rely on the statements of family members.
The same morning, the Powai police exhumed the body of the younger boy from Chand Shah Dargah Kabristan, where he was buried by his parents. The body has been shifted to JJ Hospital for post-mortem and the entire process was captured on video, said sources.
If doctors find evidence of sexual assault, the 10-year-old will be named as a second victim in the existing FIR under Sections 377 (unnatural sex), 342 (wrongful confinement) of the IPC, along with Sections 4, 8, 12 of the POCSO Act. The gang rape charge was never added to the case.
Investigation so far
Sources said the police are yet to zero in on any suspects, despite having questioned more than 100 people in the matter.
DCP (Zone X) Navinchandra Reddy told mid-day, "We have formed 10 teams and have been questioning people for clues. The body of the child who had died earlier has been exhumed and we are waiting for his post-mortem reports to decide the further course of action."
Social activist and local resident Pawan Pal said, "The incident has shocked the entire neighbourhood. The two boys were good friends and were studying in the same school. Activists have been demanding proper police presence in the area, so such incidents can be avoided."
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