At a time when public outrage is at its peak over the brutal rape of a five-year-old girl in Delhi, people in Madhya Pradesh are on the roads to protest against the rape of two minor girls, still battling for life.
Protest marches and demonstrations were held in Bhopal, Indore, Seoni, Vidisha, Jabalpur and other cities of the State. Besides, prayers were held for the two innocent rape victims.
The five-year-old rape victim of Ghansour area of Seoni, who was admitted in a private hospital at Nagpur is still unconscious and her condition is critical.
Doctors claim that her brain has stopped functioning and she has been put on ventilator since Monday morning.
The man who raped the girl has been identified as Firoz Khan, who works at a private power plant. Firoz reportedly raped the five-year-old on April 17 after luring her away with a chocolate, police said. He then dumped her at a farm.
A police team has been camping in Dhimda village of Bihar near the house of the rapist, but he is still at large. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jabalpur range, Sanjay Jha is, however, hopeful of nabbing the accused soon.
On the other hand, the condition of four-year-old rape victim from Jaitpur village in Tamia area of Chhindwara is also said to be critical. Her condition has become serious due to excessive bleeding. She is undergoing treatment in the Chhindwara district hospital.
These incidents are more horrifying than the Delhi rape case, since the 18-year-old neighbour after raping one of the girls violated her private parts with a wooden stick. The Tamia police also acted like that of Delhi police as the mother of the victim was forced to wait for over three hours to get her FIR registered in the police station along with her child in a pool of blood.
Meanwhile, search for the accused and uncle of the other rape victim has been intensified. The girl was raped and brutally killed by drowning in a pond, located at the confluence of rivers Ruparel and Beda, in Marugarh village under this district's tribal block, Jhirniya.
A sketch of the accused has been sent to all police stations and police teams are raiding all probable hideouts of the accused.
Home Minister visits hospital
Home Minister Uma Shankar Gupta visited Care Hospital in Nagpur on Monday and enquired about the well-being of the rape victim from Ghansaur. The Home Minister said the government would bear the entire cost of her treatment. He also held discussions with doctors treating the girl. Gupta reached Nagpur today on the instructions of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. He was accompanied by Minister of State for School Education Nanabhau Mohod.
Doctors from Mumbai have also been requisitioned for the girl's treatment. The girl has been put on ventilator under supervision of doctors. Officers of the district and police administration along with relatives of the girl are present at Care Hospital. All facilities are being provided to the relatives. Gupta said Rs 1 lakh reward would be given to the person leading to the main accused. SR