A couple was arrested in Mizoram, over the death of their two-year-old daughter, who was suspected to be sexually assaulted.
According to police statement, the minor girl, who hailed from a locality in the western part of Aizawl, died in a private hospital here on September 16.
While, the father of the child was arrested on October 1; the mother was arrested two days later (October 3) as they appeared to be the prime suspects in the case.
Following information received from a medical official of the private hospital, the police has filed a suo-moto cases on September 20, under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on September 20. The subsequent examination of the minor’s body revealed signs of sexual assault.
According to information received from the private hospital, even though the child was diagnosed to have died of acute Loryngotracheobrontis (ALTB) with severe respiratory distress. But, when her body was being prepared to be handed-over to her family; some unnatural signs were spotted in her private parts, indicating of sexual assault.
Subsequently, the child’s body was examined by doctors at the government-run Aizawl Civil hospital, during which old healed wounds were found on her private parts.
However, a forensic science laboratory’s examination of the child’s samples revealed that “semen was not detected from the exhibits”.
Suspecting sexual abuse, the police registered a case and launched investigation from September 20; during which several people, including the child’s parents, grand parents, other relatives and local leaders of the girl’s locality were questioned.
“The parents of the child were the prime suspects, as they had always maintained during examination, that the custody of the child always remained with them only. Hence, on the basis of the circumstantial evidences, the father of the child was arrested on October 1 and subsequently the mother was also arrested on October 3 for sustained and thorough custodial interrogation,” the police statement said.
