11-year-old Dalit rape victim dies of injuries in Patna

People gather outside the post-mortem department after the death of a minor girl undergoing treatment at PMCH, in Patna, on June 1, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI

A minor Dalit girl who was raped and found with nearly 20 knife wounds in Muzaffarpur died at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Sunday (June 1, 2025). The brutal assault took place on May 26, the police said.

The 11-year-old was transferred to Patna on Saturday for better medical treatment, but was allegedly left in pain inside the ambulance outside the Patna hospital for about five hours, and was admitted after intervention by Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar.

The police said the girl was found with nearly 20 knife injuries on and around her neck in a pit at a brick kiln. A first information report (FIR) was lodged against a 30-year-old man on the complaint of the girl’s uncle and the accused was arrested in the same evening.

The injured girl was initially treated at the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzaffarpur and underwent surgery that lasted hours, but doctors had said she remained critical. The girl was under the care of her mother and cousin after the death of her father.

Animesh Chandra Gyani, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, West -2, Muzaffarpur, told The Hindu, ”Doctor has confirmed rape.”

Following the death of the girl, Congress workers in Muzaffarpur blocked the road while raising slogans against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Health Minister Mangal Pandey.

Mr. Rajesh Kumar blamed the State government for her death and alleged she died due to lack of proper and timely treatment. Congress workers also burnt the effigies of the Chief Minister and the Health Minister in Patna.

“The irresponsible Janata Dal (United)-Bharatiya Janata Party government pushed the minor Dalit rape victim to death with their mismanagement. The incident happened on May 26, and while the Congress party has been raising the issue continuously, neither the Muzaffarpur District Magistrate or Patna AIIMS hospital and PMCH paid heed to it,” Mr. Rajesh Kumar said.

He further said, “We had appealed to the Muzaffarpur DM and submitted a memorandum to refer the girl to a bigger healthcare centre for treatment. We had also appealed for airlifting the girl to Delhi AIIMS, but the JD(U)-BJP government did not listen.”

Mr. Rajesh Kumar added, “Yesterday [Saturday], when the girl was brought to Patna after her health deteriorated, she was first not admitted to AIIMS Patna citing lack of specialist doctors. Then she was brought to PMCH, where she was not admitted and the victim kept in the ambulance for five hours. After my intervention and repeated efforts, she was admitted to the PMCH, but by then her condition had become very critical.”

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ranjeet Ranjan too slammed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government over the issue, saying, “Bihar, which was known as the land of knowledge, sacrifice and penance, has transitioned to a goon-mafia rule of murder, rape and kidnapping by criminals and anarchist elements under the patronage of JD-(U) and BJP government.”

Published - June 01, 2025 10:44 pm IST