18-year-old rape survivor found dead in private shelter home

HYDERABAD: An 18-year-old rape survivor, who is also the mother of a three-year-old child, was found dead at a private shelter home on Saturday morning. The girl was discharged from Gandhi Hospital two days ago after undergoing treatment for tuberculosis, said Jagadgirigutta police.The girl, an orphan survived rape at the age of 14, when she was working at a hotel in Hyderabad. She had come to city from Delhi. She delivered a baby and both mother and son were living at the shelter home run by Women and Child Welfare department in Allwyn colony.

A week ago, the girl was admitted to Gandhi Hospital as she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was discharged on Thursday and taken back to the shelter home. Jagadgirigutta police said that on Saturday, the girl was found dead in the shelter home. The superintendent of the home informed the police and the body has been sent to Gandhi Hospital for postmortem. Her baby would be admitted to Shishu Vihar for proper care. City-based child rights organisation, Balala Hakkula Sangham alleged that the WCW department officials did not take care of the girl properly when she was sick and sent her to a private missionary for care.

“This is because of the negligence of Women and Child Welfare department officials. We demand a high level enquiry on the deaths occurred in state-run homes and also suspension of the director of the home for a fair enquiry,” demanded Achyuta Rao, member of BHS.Jagadgirigutta police said a case has been registered under Sec 174 of CrPC based on the complaint given by the superintendent of the shelter home.