Showing signs of gradual recovery, the five-year-old child, who was raped allegedly by her neighbour, has started taking liquids and semi-solid food and her wounds have started to heal, doctors said today.
D K Sharma, Medical Superintendent of AIIMS where the girl is undergoing treatment since Friday evening, told reporters that she has shown "signs of gradual recovery".
"Her perineal wounds were re-dressed yesterday and the wounds have started to heal. However, it may take a few more days to heal completely," he said.
She is being monitored regularly by a team of specialist doctors, he said.
Yesterday, doctors said that there was "no danger" to her life though it will take another two weeks to discharge her from the hospital.
She is responding well to the anti-biotics given to her, they had said, adding the victim has undergone colostomy procedure and surgical care of perennial injuries.
The girl was raped on April 15 in a building in east Delhi's Gandhinagar locality where the victim and accused Manoj lived and she was rescued 40 hours later on April 17.
Asked whether the victim needs counselling and psychological treatment, Sharma said, "If required, we will definitely consider it. But that is not required at the moment as the girl is a child and is oblivious of what has happened to her."
He said the doctors have observed improvement in wound healing though it will take some time for the injuries to heal completely.
Asked about the surgeries needed to be conducted on the victim, he said AIIMS has expertise available for performing complex surgeries.
"The surgery is complex and difficult but we are competent to perform such surgeries," he said.
Sharma said the girl was responding to questions asked to her.
"She has severe wounds which certainly involves pain. As far as infection is concerned, her infection is subsiding. She is responding well to the doses of antibiotics. Her fever has subsided. It implies that antibiotics are having an effect, infection has not subsided completely but antibiotics are working well," he said.
On her mobility, he said actual mobility will begin only after perenial wounds heal, she is able to sit up.
Child rape case: Fresh protests in capital, traffic disrupted
New Delhi: Protesters gathered at Delhi Police Headquarters for the third day today demanding removal of Commissioner Neeraj Kumar and justice for the five-year-old rape victim even as police put up barricades to prevent December-like protests near Parliament where traffic was disrupted.
Three Metro stations -- Race Course Road, Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhavan -- close to Parliament, India Gate and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence were closed for public anticipating anti-rape protests.
The measures came against the backdrop of re-convening of the Budget session today.
However, in the morning hours, AIIMS did not witness any protest like in the past three days.
Chaos was witnessed near Parliament as police closed Red Cross Road, Rafi Marg, Raisina Road and some crossings on Rajpath. There was trouble for vehicular movement near India Gate also as barricades were erected on Mansingh Road.
Caught unawares, many commuters coming from south Delhi had to take long winding routes to reach Connaught Place and nearby localities.
long queues of vehicles were seen on many arterial roads leading to India Gate.
A handful of BJP and Aam Aadmi Party activists restarted their protest this morning outside the Police Headquarters near the busy ITO which was barricaded. A large number of police personnel were deployed at the PHQ.
As BJP supporters geared up to start a protest from its Delhi state office, police blocked Pandit Pant Marg where it is located. A large police posse was also placed near the BJP office.
Barricades were setup on the roads leading to Parliament, near the Central Secretariat metro station, India Gate and near the Delhi Police Headquarters in ITO, to prevent any incident.
The barricading and checking by senior police official have led to traffic snarls in these areas.
A Delhi Metro spokesperson said they closed down two more stations today on police instructions to prevent gatherings near India Gate and the Prime Minister's residence.
The station at Udyog Bhavan has been closed for public from 10:15 am while the facility at Central Secretariat was closed at 10:55 am onwards till further directions.
However, the interchange facility will be available at Central Secretariat station.
The Race Course Road Station was closed from 6:45 pm last evening, hours after a group of Aam Aadmi Party activists tried to stage protest at 7-Race Course Road residence of Singh demanding the removal of Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar in connection with the incident.
Udyog Bhavan Station is close to India Gate while the Race Course Road Station is near to the residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.