Supreme Court terms U.P. child assault, its aftermath ‘appalling’; calls for independent probe

The Supreme Court on Friday (April 10, 2026) found “appalling” the brutal assault on a four-year-old child by her neighbour in Uttar Pradesh, followed by the denial of urgent medical treatment by two private medical hospitals, leading to her death, and the subsequent conduct of the local police to assault and lock up her family members when they went to file a complaint.

“Instead of taking cognisance of such a horrifying offence, the petitioner [the child’s father] and his family members, including his wife, were locked up and physically assaulted, with an admonition to remain silent about the incident,” the Supreme Court order recorded.