15-year-old Dalit girl ends life after ‘rape’, police ‘inaction’ in Bundelkhand

A 15-year-old Dalit girl at Chitrakoot, in Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh (UP) on Tuesday morning allegedly died by suicide in her house, days after she was found bound and gagged in a plants’ nursery in the district, and the police did not act on the complaint of her mother, who had spotted three men leaving the spot where the girl was found, the girl’s mother said.

Police registered an FIR of rape, abetment to suicide, wrongful restraining and under the charges in section 3/4 of POCSO Act, after the death of the girl.

Rajnish Yadav, Circle officer (CO), City, denied police inaction and claimed that the family did not file a complaint earlier.

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However, the mother of the deceased said she had visited the police post in-charge of Sarraiya area and had informed him about the condition in which the girl was found on October 8 and that she had seen three men leaving the site.

On Tuesday morning, the girl was found dead by her younger brother, when other family members had gone out. The brother informed his parents.

The victim’s mother said the girl was depressed since October 8, when she had suddenly gone missing and was found in the nursery with her hands and legs tied and mouth gagged. She also saw three men, who had their faces covered, leaving the nursery.

Some villagers have told the police that they had seen the three men consuming liquor close to the nursery. The mother told the police on Tuesday that she had informed the Sarraiya area police post in-charge but he did not take any action.

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Inspector general (IG) of police, Chitrakoot, K Satyanarayan, said the police post in-charge has been suspended for dereliction of duty.

Police said, “One person identified as Kishan has been taken into custody.”

District magistrate Sheshmani Pandey met the family and assured them all possible help.

Police said the victim’s post mortem had been conducted by a panel of four doctors.