A 14-year-old Dalit girl died by suicide in Lakhimpur Kheri near Meerut. Her family alleges that she was under immense stress after the man accused of molesting her was released on bail and threatened to kill her.
The Incident
The teenager was found hanging from the roof of her house on Wednesday afternoon. Her parents were not at home at the time, with her father working as a farm labourer and her mother collecting firewood. When they returned from work, they discovered their daughter’s body.
Speaking about the circumstances leading to his daughter’s extreme step, the victim’s father recounted the traumatic events of the past month. He explained that on January 10, his daughter had gone to a nearby field to collect fodder when the accused, identified as 25-year-old Lavlesh Kumar, dragged her into the bushes and molested her.
“When she raised an alarm, the accused hurled casteist slurs and fled,” the father said.
Legal Action and the Accused’s Release
Following the incident, the girl returned home and informed her parents about the assault. They immediately filed a police complaint, leading to the registration of a First Information Report. The accused was arrested and sent to judicial custody.
However, the situation took a devastating turn after Lavlesh Kumar secured bail approximately one week ago. According to the family, his release from prison marked the beginning of fresh terror for the teenage survivor.
“After getting bail, Lavlesh met my daughter when she had gone out to a nearby shop and threatened to kill her if we did not take back the case,” the grieving father told reporters.
Mental Trauma and the Aftermath
The father described how his daughter was deeply affected by this encounter. “My daughter then told us that she was terrified and was under mental stress. But before we could do anything, she took the extreme step,” he said, his voice filled with grief and helplessness.
The family maintains that the constant fear of the accused and his threats pushed the teenager to take her own life. The incident highlights the vulnerability of survivors, particularly those from marginalised communities, even after they muster the courage to report sexual crimes.
Police Response and New Charges
Following a fresh complaint lodged by the family, police registered a case against Lavlesh Kumar on Thursday. Circle Officer Shivam Kumar provided details about the legal action taken.
An FIR has been filed under section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with abetment of suicide, and section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“The accused was arrested and sent to jail on Friday,” Kumar confirmed.
