In the hope of a miracle cure, a five-year-old terminally ailing child was submerged in the Ganges again and again by his parents, leading to his death. The horrific incident occurred in Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri, and a case has been lodged in connection with the incident.
On Wednesday, the family from Delhi arrived at Har Ki Pauri. Eventually, they took the ailing boy to Har Ki Pauri to take the holy dip in Ganga.
The child’s parents kept chanting mantras on the banks while ignoring the loud cries of the child. His aunt allegedly dipped him repeatedly in the Ganga until he suffocated and died, the police said.
This horrific incident was recorded by a person who was on the other side of the ghat on his mobile camera. The woman's actions caught the attention of onlookers, who were then seen trying to revive him. The woman, seen laughing in a half-crazed manner, can be heard saying that this child will stand up. That is her promise.
Bhavna Kainthola, station house officer (SHO) at Har-ki-Pauri police station, said that the eyewitnesses reported the incident to the police. Upon receiving the information, police reached the site and took the child to the district hospital, where the doctors declared the child dead. The child's body has been sent for a post-mortem. The child's parents and aunt have been detained for interrogation.
However, the locals present at the spot grew suspicious of the family’s behavior, and a commotion took place. The locals accused the family of submerging the child.
As per a report from India today, the Superintendent of Police (City) Swatantra Kumar Singh said that the couple had brought their child, who was suffering from blood cancer, for a holy dip in the Ganga River in Haridwar. The child's parents disclosed that they had consulted doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, but the doctors had given up on the child.
The child was reportedly suffering from blood cancer. The child's parents took him to Haridwar after doctors had given up on the child.
The police have lodged a case, and further investigation into the case is in progress.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Komal Bhoi)