Brutal Rape and Neglect: Minor Dalit Girl Dies After Hours-Long Hospital Delay in Bihar

Brutal Rape and Systemic Negligence: Minor Dalit Girl Dies After Alleged Medical Apathy in Bihar

By Payel Sengupta

Patna, June 3, 2025 – A 10-year-old Dalit girl, who was brutally raped and assaulted in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur, succumbed to her injuries at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Sunday, sparking nationwide outrage over alleged medical negligence and administrative apathy. The incident has exposed the crumbling healthcare system and law enforcement failures in the state, drawing sharp condemnation from activists and opposition leaders.

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A Heinous Crime and Delayed Justice

The minor was lured with a chocolate near her aunt’s house on May 26 and taken to a maize field, where she was raped and left with severe slash wounds on her throat and chest. “The accused tried to kill her by slitting her throat. Her vocal cords were damaged, and she was unable to speak,” a police official revealed. The perpetrator, an influential local from the same village, was later arrested.

However, the family alleged that the Turki police station initially refused to register their complaint. “The accused’s relatives even filed a counter-complaint against us,” the victim’s uncle, Virendra Paswan, claimed. It was only after approaching the Women’s Police Station that an FIR was lodged under relevant sections. “The girl was raped, and an investigation is underway,” confirmed Aditi Kumari, the station in-charge.

Medical Negligence and a Fight for Survival

After being admitted to Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzaffarpur, the girl was referred to PMCH due to the severity of her injuries. However, her ordeal worsened upon arrival.

Paswan alleged that the child was left waiting in an ambulance for hours before being admitted. “We were made to wait for five hours after registration. Had she received timely treatment, she could have survived,” he said. Disturbingly, the family claimed they were asked for ₹2,000 to refill her oxygen supply while she was being shifted between wards due to a lack of beds.

Dr. Singh of PMCH dismissed the allegations, stating, “If such an incident occurs, families will blame negligence. We treated her actively from the moment she arrived.” However, rights activists and political leaders have slammed the administration for its callousness.

Political Outrage and Nationwide Condemnation

The incident has ignited a firestorm in poll-bound Bihar, with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi condemning the “systemic apathy and medical negligence” that led to the girl’s death. In a scathing post on X, he wrote:

“The brutality against a minor Dalit girl in Muzaffarpur and the subsequent negligence in her treatment is extremely shameful. The double-engine government failed not only in providing security but also in saving her life. We demand strict action against the culprits and negligent officials.”

Congress workers staged massive protests in Patna, blocking roads and demanding accountability from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Health Minister Mangal Pandey.

Activists Decry Bihar’s Deteriorating Law and Order

Rights activist Payel Sengupta issued a searing statement:

*”This case is bone-chilling. A 10-year-old was raped, her throat slit, and then left to die due to hospital delays. She roamed ward to ward without a bed, ran out of oxygen, and was extorted for money. This is the seventh rape in Bihar in 15 days, including a 1.5-year-old victim. If this were an opposition-ruled state, the media and government would be on high alert. But under this administration, justice is denied.”*

A State in Shame

The case has once again highlighted Bihar’s abysmal record in protecting women and children. With elections looming, the ruling government faces severe backlash for its failure to ensure basic safety and healthcare.

As the victim’s family mourns, the nation watches—will justice prevail, or will Bihar’s leaders continue to evade accountability?