KARACHI: Abused 10-year-old girl tries to kill herself
By Arman Sabir
KARACHI, April 11: A 10-year-old girl, who set herself on fire after being raped, is struggling for life in a hospital.
The girl, who was allegedly raped by a 55-year-old sex maniac, had suffered more than 70 per cent burns after she set herself ablaze in the bathroom of her house in Orangi Town in mid-February.
The family told the police that the girl used to buy vegetables from Salamat Ali, a vegetable vendor, in the neighbourhood of the girl. The girl, as usual, went to buy vegetables, in February, and Salamat lured her inside his house. There he overpowered the small girl and raped her. The girl raised alarm, attracting the attention of neighbours, who broke into the house to rescue the girl.
According to the police investigation and statements of family members and neighbours, the girl was rescued from the clutches of Salamat Ali. But neighbours beat Salamat and the small girl suspecting that they had indulged in the immoral act without listening to her.
The neighbours took the girl to her house and handed her over to her family. They thrashed Salamat further, hitting him with kicks and blows, and later let him go. The police believed that Salamat had outraged the modesty of other girls but they or their families preferred to remain silent.
Salamat’s wife had died some years back and her only daughter was married off, now living in Landhi, the police investigation showed.
The girl, who had expected to be solaced by her family, was instead beaten up as if she was partner in the crime. Her family tormentors included the girl’s step-father and two brothers.
Humiliated and tortured beyond endurance, the girl went into the bathroom of her house, doused herself with kerosene and set herself on fire. Her hue and cry and the leaping flames shook her family, who ran to rescue her but by that time, the girl had suffered severe burns. She was taken to different hospitals and then was admitted to the National Institute of Child Health, where she is still in a critical condition.
The doctors in the hospital said it was a “miracle” that the girl, having suffered more than 70 per cent burns, was alive. A patient having more than 40 per cent burns, usually cannot survive, doctors say.
The medico-legal examination of the girl was carried out, and the police arrested Salamat on the very next day of the incident and put him behind bars. He was booked in the FIR 46/2003 under section 392 of the PPC and 10(3) of Zina Hudood Ordinance. The suspect was later challaned before a court on March 10, and sent into judicial custody. The trial is under way.
The police said the step-father of the girl had fled after the girl gave a statement to the police that he had beaten her up before she took the extreme step.
