Before being Killed, Kathua Girl in Coma: Doctors
Jammu, June 24: An overdose of sedatives, forcibly given to an eight-year-old girl while she was being kept in captivity in Kathua in January this year, might have put her into a coma before she was killed, forensic medical experts have said.
The crime branch of the Jammu and Kashmir police, probing the brutal gang-rape and murder case of the eight-year-old girl, had sent a sample of her viscera to a forensic laboratory earlier this month to examine the effect of "mannar" candies (or local cannabis) and Epitril 0.5 mg tablets, forcibly given to the girl by the accused.
According to the medical opinion received recently by the crime branch, the doctors said the tablet given to the eight-year-old girl could have pushed her into a state of shock or coma.
The crime branch had asked the medical experts to check the effect of the medicine on an eight-year-old girl with an empty stomach.
The crime branch decided to seek further medical opinion after it was claimed by the accused and their lawyers in the court, as well as on social media through their supporters, that it was impossible that the girl could not have cried for help when such an alleged brutal attack was happening on her.
The doctors, after examining the viscera, pointed out that the medicine forcibly given to the child contained Clonazepam salt and had to be given under medical supervision, keeping in mind the age and weight of the patient.
"Considering her 30-kg body weight, the therapeutic dose of 0.1 to 0.2 mgs per day divided in three doses for patient (is recommended)," the medical expert said.
"She was forcefully administered five tablets of Clonazepam of 0.5 mg each on January 11, 2018 which is higher than the safe therapeutic dose. Subsequently more tablets were given... the signs and symptoms of an overdose may include drowsiness, confusion, impaired coordination, slow reflexes, slowed or stopped breathing, coma (loss of consciousness) and death," according to the medical expert.
The peak concentration of Clonazepam is achieved in the blood after one hour to 90 minutes of oral administration and its absorption is complete, "irrespective of administered either with or without food", according to the concluding opinion of the medical expert.
The opinion would be submitted before the district and sessions court in Punjab's Pathankot, hearing the matter, after the summer break next week.
The trial of the case was shifted from Kathua in Jammu to Pathankot on the directions of the Supreme Court.
The doctors, however, could not give any laboratory analysis of 'mannar' candies and said "it is difficult to comment on the effect its co-administration with Clonazapem" would have.
The eight-year-old girl from the Bakarwal nomadic community was allegedly kidnapped on January 10 by the nephew of the main accused, Sanji Ram, and brutally killed after being raped. Her body was recovered on January 17.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
