AIZAWL:  A couple was detained over the death of their two-year-old daughter who was suspected to have been sexually molested, a police statement said.

The young woman, who hailed from a locality in the western part of Aizawl, died on September 16 in a nearby private hospital. The mother was taken into custody on October 3 after the mother's arrest on October 1 since they both seemed to be the main suspects in the case, as per police statement.

The police had filed a suo-moto case on September 20 in accordance with the pertinent provisions of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act in response to information received from a medical officer of the private hospital. An examination of the minor's body revealed signs of sexual abuse.

When the child's body was being prepared to be given to her family, some unnatural signs were spotted in her private parts, which could indicate sexual assault, the private hospital reported, even though the child was diagnosed as having died from acute Loryngotracheobrontis (ALTB) with severe respiratory distress. Doctors at the government-run Aizawl Civil hospital then checked the child's body, and it was then that ancient, healed scars on her privates were discovered, according to the report.

However, a forensic science laboratory's investigation of the child's samples showed that "semen was not detected from the exhibits," it said.

The girl's local leaders as well as her parents, grandparents, other relatives, and others were questioned by the police as part of their investigation into possible sexual assault that began on September 20.

The child's parents were the main suspects since they always insisted during examination that the child's custody always remained with them alone. Therefore, based on circumstantial evidence, the mother and father of the kid were both arrested on October 3 in order to conduct a protracted and in-depth custodial interrogation, according to a police statement.
The child's parents were named as key suspects in a police complaint submitted earlier on September 29 by well-known social activist Vanramchhuangi, who also sought their immediate arrest. A few days later, the girl's relatives also reported the allegations to the authorities in a police complaint.

The two complaints were not filed since a suo-moto case had already been filed for the same occurrence and was actively being investigated, said Aizawl Superintendent of Police (SP) C Lalruaia.

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