10-year-old raped by friends passes away in Delhi’s hospital

A 10-year-old boy who was viciously attacked and raped on September 18 by three friends, including a cousin, all of whom were between the ages of 10 and 12, died early on Saturday due to complications from his injuries at the Lok Nayak Hospital run by the Delhi government.

The boy’s family reported on Saturday that he had a high fever all night and abruptly started losing vitals this morning.

 “We were with him and then a few doctors came in and said that his heart had stopped beating. They asked to wait outside and after a few minutes said he was no more,” the boy’s mother said.

She said, “They had told us initially that we would be able to take him home next week. How can he suddenly die?”

A formal version from the hospital is awaited.

A senior police officer who wished to remain anonymous claimed that although they have been “informally” told that the boy has passed away, they have not yet received a formal statement from the hospital.

The child has died, according to Sanjay Kumar Sain, deputy commissioner of police (north east).

The boy was assaulted and raped by three juveniles on September 18 in East Delhi, and on September 22 he was taken to Lok Nayak Hospital.

On Friday, doctors said the boy’s wounds were so gruesome, they were reminded of the December 16, 2012 gang rape victim. Doctors confirmed that sharp objects had been inserted in his private parts and he was also badly beaten up.

The boy’s family, who dwell in Seelampur in east Delhi, said that he was called by a few neighbourhood boys on the evening of September 18 under the pretence of playing cricket. Since his return, they felt “something was off” but did not know the seriousness of the situation.