Girl beaten by shopkeeper's son, dies

A seven-year-old girl died on Friday after being beaten up by her neighbour in central Delhi’s Anand Parbat area.

This is the same area where the infamous Meenakshi murder case took place less than a month ago.

The victim, Payal, was reportedly attacked by the minor son of a neighbourhood shopkeeper on Thursday evening for choosing to purchase groceries from a rival shopkeeper.

She was taken to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for treatment and was discharged just hours before she breathed her last on Friday.

The police, were informed about the incident late on Friday, said a case under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code is likely to be filed. The juvenile accused has been detained, but the police are waiting for Payal’s post-mortem report.

“We are in the process of ascertaining the precise reason behind Payal’s death. The incident is also being probed from the angle of possible medical negligence,” said a police officer. According to her family, Payal’s mother Pooja had sent her to the market in the neighbourhood on Thursday evening to buy some household items.

In the market, Payal chose to purchase the items from a shop adjacent to the one her family usually visits. This reportedly angered the minor son of the shopkeeper.
The accused is said to have waylaid Payal and beaten her in full public view. He then fled, leaving Payal crying in pain. A neighbour informed her family of the incident, after which she was taken to hospital.

Payal was treated for broken ribs in addition to similar injuries for a day before being discharged. Her condition reportedly worsened soon after she reached home. It continued to deteriorate till she died.

“Payal’s body was taken to Lady Hardinge Medical College for post-mortem,” said the officer.

Last month, 19-year-old Meenakshi was stabbed to death in Anand Parbat over a family dispute with neighbours.