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Journalism of Courage
Two villagers in Bhagalpur district have been accused of attempting to chop off the palms of 5-year-old Sinchan and sever the elbow of her 12-year-old sister Tetri over the choking of a drain. The children have been admitted to a hospital with severe injuries. Though the incident occurred on Wednesday night in Ghogha village, 20 km from Bhagalpur, it was known only on Saturday after local reporters spotted the girls in the hospital.
The police, however, had no knowledge of the crime despite being located barely 100 metres away from the place where the incident occurred. “We have directed the local police to arrest the culprits,” said DIG (Bhagalpur Range) G N Sharma.
Based on the victims’ statement the police have lodged an FIR against Arvind Mandal and Kali Mandal. Both the accused are absconding. According to Tetri, the Mandals, who are their neighbours, had accused them of choking a drain and had threatened them with dire consequences. They “tried to cut off Sinchan’s wrists and my elbow with a sharp weapon,” said Tetri.
