11-year-old ‘starving’ Simdega girl died of malaria, says deputy commissioner

The deputy commissioner told chief minister Raghubar Das, who has announced an ex gratia of Rs 50,000 to the family, that a three-member team had probed the death and the report said she died of malaria.

Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das sought a detailed inquiry report from Simdega deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri on Tuesday in the alleged starvation death of 11-year-old Santoshi Kumari in the district on September 28.

Santoshi Kumari, 11, died allegedly of starvation after her family was struck off the government welfare rolls for not linking their ration card with Aadhaar. (HT FIle Photo)

Failure in Aadhaar seeding of ration card allegedly debarred the impoverished family of free ration since February, which led to the girl’s death.

Das visited Simdega on Tuesday and announced an ex gratia of ₹50,000 to the family after taking cognisance of media reports.

“It is an unfortunate and painful incident. I extend my support to the family,” said Das.

The Simdega administration, however, maintained that Santoshi was suffering from malaria and died due to her ailment.

Bhajantri told Das that a three-member team comprising district supply inspector Nandji Ram, civil surgeon Ijazuddin Ashraf, and project director Jagat Narayan Prasad had probed her death. The report said Santoshi was detected with malaria.

Das, however, has directed Bhajantri to conduct a probe again and submit the report by Wednesday.