Nagpur, May 5: It was a double blow for 14-year-old Sunita (name changed). First, she was violently raped by her stepfather that left her bleeding, in great pain, immobile and in deep trauma. Then, the doctors at the Government Medical College and Hospital, showing shocking apathy and insensitivity to Sunita, refused to admit her saying, "Such health conditions are expected in cases of rapes on young girls".
The alleged rape happened on Thursday night. She was brought to the hospital first on Friday evening. Sent back, Sunita had to be brought again on Saturday to the GMCH after she lost consciousness twice during the night. After being admitted at 2pm, Sunita continues to writhe in pain at the time of writing the report.
Sunita's stepfather Pradeep Kharwade has been arrested and is in police custody till May 7. It is learnt that that he had earlier attempted to rape his own daughter for which his family had thrown him out.
'Accused had made two attempts too'
Pradeep Kharwade was arrested for allegedly raping his step daughter Sunita (name changed). Around a year ago Kharwade, an ice-cream seller, started staying as 'husband' with the widowed mother of Sunita, a standard IX student at Antuji Nagar in Bhandewadi. The woman was working for a caterer. Relatives said that Kharwade had twice earlier attempted to molest Sunita for which he was warned by them. They also claimed that Kharwade may have been assisted by others on Thursday night, too.
Sunita and her 10-year-old sister were sleeping in their house on Thursday night when Kharwade, who is in his 50s, forced himself upon her. Her mother was out on duty at a wedding. Kharwade left the house even thought Sunita was bleeding from her private parts. She remained in pain and complained of dizziness for most part of Friday. On seeing her condition, a neighbour informed her mother who rushed home.
The woman then took Sunita to Nandanvan police station from where they were sent to GMCH. The girl's second round of humiliation started as soon as she stepped into the hospital. Despite repeated pleas by relatives to provide assistance, doctors at the GMCH chose to ignore Sunita who was all the while bleeding and writhing in pain. This shocking negligence - later denied by the hospital authorities - comes at a time when the government is trying hard to end atrocities on women by tightening the loopholes in the law.
"We were shocked to hear the statement," said the girl's mother. GMCH dean Dr Rajaram Pawar said that the doctors may have spoken the words only to "provide comfort and assurance". While GMCH authorities said the girl's family did not want to get her admitted, the relatives countered saying the doctors refused them permission.
During Friday night, Sunita lost consciousness twice. She was rushed back to the GMCH where doctors finally admitted Sunita after completing the paperwork. A relative said Sunita spent the whole night complaining of pain the abdomen and bleeding, which kept her awake.
The relative added that Sunita loses consciousness and is in a state of shock when she wakes up. "The doctors administered an injection in the afternoon and after that did not turn up at all. She is in terrible pain but nobody paying any attention to her. When I spoke to a doctor, I was told that there are other patients who require attention too," she said.
But, Dr Pawar said doctors were doing their best. "Considering her age, medicines are being provided at regular intervals," he said.
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