Hyderabad: A 13-year-old girl from Hyderabad died under “suspicious circumstances” on October 3 after fasting for 68 days.
The greedy family members and other community elders made the girl to undertake fast for 68 days as part of a ritual for the Jain holy period called Chaumasa, reported NDTV.
The deceased was identified as Aradhana, class 8 student of St Francis school in Secunderabad.
Aradhana was admitted to a hospital two days after she finished her fast of 68 days where she died due to a cardiac arrest.
According to reports Balala Hakkula Sangham (Child Rights Association) has written a letter in this regard to the Hyderabad Police Commissioner.
Association President Anuradha Rao in the letter alleged that the girl’s family members and other community elders made her to undertake fast for 68 days as part of a ritual.
Anuradha claimed that a Chennai priest had advised the couple Lakshmichand and Manisha that in order to get profits in business, they should make their daughter observe fast for at least four months.
“Based on the priest’s advice, Aradhana was forcibly starved for 68 days,” claimed the Balala Hakkula Sangam president.
“During the meeting, the victim collapsed on the ground and slipped into coma. Immediately, she was shifted to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead,” he added.