Jaipur- The Karauli police have solved the murder mystery of Dimple Meena, an 10-year-old deaf and mute girl, culminating in the shocking arrest of her parents and maternal uncle on Saturday.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), which conducted a thorough investigation, revealed that the girl was not raped and died due to poisoning rather than burn injuries.

However, activists and tribal rights advocates find the police's narrative unbelievable and suspect foul play. Activist Hansraj Meena has demanded a CBI investigation, while members of the Bharat Adivasi Party have raised numerous questions that they feel remain unanswered.

The family members, along with tribal leaders and social workers, have been supporting the grieving family, who were protesting for justice for several days at Shaheed Smarak, Jaipur.

Meanwhile, on the other hand, there are people who support the police narrative. People who believe in the police investigation suggest that the family may have conspired to kill the deaf and mute girl.

They argue that she could have been seen as a burden, prompting her family to orchestrate her murder and then shift blame onto a third party. This theory posits that such actions might have been motivated by a desire to claim compensation or other benefits.

Supporters of this perspective view the arrests made by the police as justified, considering the alleged motive and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The victim’s father, Karan Meena, and mother, Kamleshi, along with her uncle, Rajesh Meena, were arrested late Saturday night. It is alleged that the parents poured petrol over the girl and set her on fire.

Initially, the girl was found burning in a field about 100 meters from her home in Hindaun on May 9. She was taken to SMS Hospital in Jaipur, where she succumbed to her injuries on May 20. Her family cremated her the following day.

The girl, a fifth-grade student at a residential school for the deaf and mute in Karauli, had returned home for holidays on May 7. She was found burning near her home two days later. Despite being engulfed in flames, she managed to reach her house, where her family extinguished the fire. She indicated through gestures that two individuals set her on fire and ran towards the railway tracks.

The subsequent medical examination and revelations shocked the investigators.

Under the supervision of IG Bharatpur, Rahul Prakash, the police started a thorough investigation, focusing on the parents and uncle. It was revealed that the girl’s parents orchestrated the entire plot to frame the field owner’s son, Lalit Sharma.

As the girl’s health improved, her sudden deterioration on May 19 puzzled the doctors. Her condition worsened due to the poison, which caused breathing difficulties. Unaware of the poisoning, the doctors could not treat her appropriately. The parents’ refusal to place her on a ventilator further complicated her condition.

Investigation Findings

The gravity of the incident prompted the involvement of experts in communication with the deaf and mute. On May 14, these experts recorded the girl's statements at the hospital. Despite being found naked, the girl denied any sexual assault and identified the person who set her on fire from a photograph. The DNA report also confirmed the absence of sexual assault.

Further suspicion arose when the girl's condition worsened at SMS Hospital. Her parents and uncle refused to allow her to be placed on a ventilator.

On June 6, a medical report revealed that she had been poisoned, deepening the police’s suspicion. The report indicated that the poison had been administered approximately 24 hours before her death.

Questions Arise Over Police Statement:

The police have stated that the girl drenched herself in petrol and set herself on fire after a quarrel with her mother. People are questioning the plausibility of this statement. They find it hard to believe that a 10-year-old girl, who is deaf and mute (thus potentially facing communication challenges), would have the courage or intent to take such a drastic step, especially after a fight with her mother.

There is also concern about the motive behind the reported fight between the girl and her mother. The police have not disclosed why the altercation occurred or why it escalated to a point where the girl allegedly chose to set herself on fire.

Activists have raised several questions regarding the police’s narrative and the arrests made. Dr. Jitendra Meena, a tribal activist, has questioned the inconsistencies in the case:

1. Initially, the police claimed the girl was electrocuted by a tranformer, but later reports indicated she was burned with petrol. The family mentioned acid. How did the girl actually burn?

2. How did an 11-year-old girl obtain petrol, considering it is illegal to sell petrol in bottles?

3. Why were only her genital areas burned?

4. Despite the girl identifying the perpetrator, why was there a delay in the arrest?

5. Given the sensitivity of the case, how did the poison go unnoticed?

6. How did the police dismiss the girl’s statements before her death?

Hansraj Meena, another activist, has demanded a high-level CBI investigation, emphasizing the need for a thorough and impartial investigation.

The SIT has been investigating the case, but the involvement of multiple parties and the severity of the allegations have prompted calls for an even deeper probe to ensure justice for the young girl.

Family members, tribal leaders, and social workers have rallied around the grieving family, who have been protesting for justice for several days. The support from the community highlights the widespread concern over the handling of the case and the demand for a transparent and fair investigation.

The community’s continued efforts aim to ensure that the truth comes to light and justice is served for the young victim.