Doctors, police at odds over two-year-old's death

Doctors and the police have conflicting versions of what caused the death of Tanaaz Sayyed, a two-year-old girl from Dharavi, on August 3. While reports from Sion hospital indicate that the girl died of physical abuse, the Shahu Nagar police deny any such knowledge.

Doctors and the police have conflicting versions of what caused the death of Tanaaz Sayyed, a two-year-old girl from Dharavi, on August 3. While reports from Sion hospital indicate that the girl died of physical abuse, the Shahu Nagar police deny any such knowledge.

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"The X-ray reports showed that Tanaaz had suffered minor fractures. This is a case of battered baby syndrome," said a doctor from the hospital's forensic department. Battered baby syndrome refers to injuries sustained by a child as a result of physical abuse, usually inflicted by an adult caregiver. Senior inspector of Shahu Nagar police N Mhetar, however, said, "The post-mortem report of the girl has stated 'opinion [about cause of death] reserved, with evidence of old healing injuries over body'. We have now sent the victim's viscera to the forensic science laboratory at Kalina. In case the report points to any foul play, necessary action will be taken." Mhetar also claimed that the injuries on the girl's body were from allergic reactions to oil used to massage her, a story repeated by the girl's father, Firdaus Sayyed.

While officials from Sion hospital say that they had informed the police about Tanaaz's previous injuries, Mhetar says they heard about the incident only when the girl passed away on August 3.