13-year-old consumes rat poison after being sodomised, is fighting for his life at Mumbai hospital

The Mumbai boy told his parents he decided to kill himself as he was scared and humiliated after the sexual assault

A 13-year-old boy is fighting for his life at a government hospital after he tried to commit suicide by consuming rat poison on July 12. He took this step after he and his friend were allegedly sodomised earlier this month, said police.

After the boy consumed poison and started vomiting, he was taken to a nearby hospital. (HT File Photo)

The boy lives in a slum pocket in Powai. He and his 10-year-old friend were on the way to class when the accused accosted them. He sodomised them after threatening to kill them.

After the boy consumed poison and started vomiting, he was taken to a nearby hospital, where he told his parents he decided to kill himself as he was scared and humiliated after the sexual assault.

The 10-year-old boy died of dehydration a few days ago, his father told police. As the body was buried without a postmortem, police have not been able to ascertain if he committed suicide too.

“We may exhume the body to find out if he poisoned himself too. The 13-year-old boy has identified the accused and we are in the process of tracing him,” said an officer from the Powai police station.

“We registered an FIR under section 377 (unnatural offences) of Indian Penal Code and sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act. The boy will have to undergo medical tests. Investigations are ongoing,” said Lata Shirsat, senior inspector, Powai police station.