A 15-year-old Dalit girl who was allegedly raped took her own life at her home in a village under Neemgaon police station in Kheri district on Monday. The teenager was found hanging from a noose inside her house, sending shockwaves through the local community.
The case has become highly sensitive because the victim and the accused belong to different communities. Police officials acted quickly to prevent any unrest. Senior officers, including Superintendent of Police Khyati Garg and the local Chief Judicial Officer, rushed to the spot after receiving the news. Police forces have been deployed in the village to maintain peace and order.
Accused Arrested Earlier This Month
The tragedy follows a complaint filed by the girl’s mother on July 5. Based on her statement, police registered a case under Section 65 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with rape of a girl under 16 years of age, along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act.
According to the complaint, the 21-year-old accused, who lives in the same village, entered the girl’s house around 5 pm on July 5 when her family members were working in the fields. Police arrested him that very night and sent him to jail the next day.
SP Khyati Garg shared details about the case. She said, “Preliminary investigation by the local officer has revealed that the girl and the accused were in a relationship for over two years. The victim had initially denied the rape allegations, but after the FIR was lodged, she confirmed them in her statement recorded before the court under BNSS Section 183.”
Police Investigate Circumstances Leading to Suicide
Authorities are now trying to understand what drove the young girl to take such a drastic step. Police have not ruled out the possibility that she was under severe emotional stress after giving her testimony against the accused in court.
A police official speaking on the condition of anonymity said, “Testifying in such cases can be extremely traumatic for young survivors. We are looking into all aspects of what she went through in the days after her statement.”
The girl’s body has been sent for postmortem examination. Officials have made it clear that further legal action will depend on the postmortem report findings.
A local resident who knew the family shared, “She was such a young girl. Her family is devastated. No one expected this to happen.”
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the mental health support available to survivors of sexual violence, especially those from marginalized communities. Police continue to investigate all circumstances that led to this heartbreaking event.
