Teen Girl Dies by Suicide After Alleged Rape and Police Humiliation in Lakhimpur Kheri
A deeply disturbing case has emerged from Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh, where a 17-year-old intermediate student died by suicide earlier this week. The tragedy occurred days after she was allegedly raped and then reportedly faced humiliation when attempting to report the crime at a local police station.
Details of the Alleged Assault
According to police reports, the horrific incident took place on Tuesday night when the girl stepped out of her house to relieve herself. She was allegedly dragged into a nearby field and raped. The primary accused has been identified as a 16-year-old boy, while his 45-year-old uncle is accused of encouraging the crime.
Family's Account of Police Response
The girl's family members stated that she immediately informed her mother about the assault and went to the police station the same night to file a complaint. However, they allege that police officials dismissed their concerns, citing the need for preliminary investigation before registering a formal report.
The situation took a more distressing turn when the family returned to the police station on Tuesday. The girl's brother described the interaction as "traumatising" and claimed that officers pressured them to alter their complaint by removing one accused's name. He further alleged that the station house officer publicly humiliated the victim, using derogatory language and questioning her character by accusing her of staying out late at night.
Tragic Outcome and Initial Investigation Discrepancies
Deeply distressed by both the assault and the alleged verbal abuse by police officials, the girl died by suicide in her room shortly after returning home from the police station.
Following the tragedy, discrepancies emerged in official records. While the written complaint submitted by her brother mentioned the girl's age as 17, the First Information Report (FIR) initially recorded her age as 18. Furthermore, the FIR originally named only one accused under BNS section 64 (rape), omitting the uncle's alleged involvement.
Police Response and Arrests
Following public outrage, police arrested both accused individuals on Thursday. Lakhimpur Kheri SP Sankalp Sharma acknowledged the initial discrepancies, explaining that the FIR was filed based on preliminary inputs. Subsequent document checks confirmed the survivor was indeed 17 years old, and the primary accused was 16.
"After investigations, we found the involvement of the uncle in encouraging the crime," Sharma stated. Both individuals were produced before the court on Thursday before being sent to jail.
Updated Charges and Ongoing Investigation
The SP confirmed that relevant BNS sections, including 108 (abetment of suicide), have been added to the FIR along with the uncle's name. He stated that appropriate provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act would also be invoked.
Regarding allegations of police insensitivity, Sharma said, "We are probing that aspect as well."
Community Tensions and Preventive Measures
As the case involved members of two different communities, tensions briefly surfaced in the area after news of the suicide spread. Police officials stated that "timely arrests helped prevent escalation" of the situation.
This tragic case has highlighted serious concerns about police responsiveness to sexual assault complaints and the treatment of survivors within the justice system. The ongoing investigation into both the criminal acts and police conduct will be closely watched by community members and advocates for women's safety across Uttar Pradesh.
