2 minor Dalit girls found dead in Unnao field, cousin ‘critical’, police suspect poisoning

While the two girls were declared dead on arrival at hospital, the 17-year-old has been referred to Kanpur in a ‘critical’ state.

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Unnao: The bodies of two Dalit girls, aged 13 and 16, were found in their family’s fields in Baburaha village of Unnao district in Uttar Pradesh Wednesday evening. An older girl from the same family was also with them, and was found in an unconscious state at the same spot, police said.

According to the police, the 17-year-old has been sent to a hospital in Kanpur and her condition is stated to be “critical”.

Initial investigations suggest the girls died due to consumption of a poisonous substance, said the police.

Police sources said the bodies of the two deceased girls have been sent for postmortem, and a detailed investigation is on.

In a statement issued to the media, Unnao Superintendent of Police Sureshrao Kulkarni said the three girls had gone to the family’s fields to fetch fodder. However, when they did not return after several hours, family members went there in search of them and found them in an unconscious state.

The police said poisonous froth was found at the spot, and that there were no signs of any sexual misconduct.

Had gone to fetch fodder, didn’t return

The media cell of Unnao police told ThePrint that the three girls from Baburaha village — Komal (16), Kajal (13 years) and Roshni (17 years) — had gone to the fields late afternoon to fetch fodder for their cattle. They said no blood stains or any serious injury marks were found on them.

According to the police, all three girls had their homes adjacent to each other.

While some of the family members told reporters the girls’ hands were tied when they found them, the police denied this.

All three girls were taken to the district hospital where Komal and Kajal were declared dead on arrival.

The police said Roshni was referred to a hospital in Kanpur when there was no improvement in her condition.

The police have cordoned off the area where the bodies were found, and an investigation is on under the supervision of Inspector General (Lucknow Range) Laxmi Singh.