Grandmother burns 4-year-old girl’s private parts in Sirsa village

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 22

Annoyed at the birth of three daughters to her daughter-in-law, a woman is alleged to have burnt the private parts of her four-year-old granddaughter with a tong at Maujukhera village of Sirsa.

Member of the District Child Protection Committee, who got a tip-off regarding the incident, rescued the child and took her to the hospital and lodged a complaint with the police.

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Anjana Dudi, Child Protection Officer in Sirsa told The Tribune that the incident took place on July 9 and came to light on July18 after the District Child Protection Committee officials in Sirsa received information about the incident.

“The girl’s mother told our social worker, Ram Gopal on July 18 that her mother-in-law burnt the child’s private parts with hot tong because she was upset at the birth of three consecutive daughters to her. Our worker told the family to produce the child before the District Child Protection Committee in Sirsa, but they ignored his directions,” said Anjana.

“On July 20, committee members Gita Kathuria, Vijay Malik and Puran Chand went to the village, but the woman changed her statement and said the girl sustained burn injuries due to accidental pouring of hot tea. However, the other two sisters of the child — aged 6 and 7 — spilled the beans and alleged that their grandmother had done this because she wanted a grandson and she used to inflict cruelty on them too,” she added.

The members of the committee took girl to a hospital. They also informed the police. The girl was later discharged from the hospital.

The villagers also alleged before the committee that the family wanted a boy which may be the reason behind such a horrifying act.

“An FIR under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act-2015 has been registered against unknown persons on the complaint of the District Child Welfare Committee,” said Jagir Singh, SHO of the Ding Police Station in Sirsa.

The police are yet to arrest the accused.

Asked why the police have registered FIR against unknown persons when the accused (grandmother) was identified, the SHO said the FIR has been registered based on complaint given to the police by the committee members.

The incident is shocking in a state that claims to have improved sex ratio after the launch of its Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme.

With a sex ratio of 879, Haryana was placed 30th in table of 35 states and Union Territories of the country in the 2011 Census.