Threatened With Rape, Gangrape Survivor Commits Suicide in UP

The 16-year-old had been gangraped by five men a few months ago and was threatened by three of them on Friday.

Signatures on an anti-rape banner. Photo used for representational purpose. 

(Photo: Reuters)

After being threatened with rape again, a 16-year-old gangrape survivor committed suicide in Baghpat district in Uttar Pradesh on Friday evening. According to the police, the victim hung herself from the ceiling fan in her room when three of the five accused of gangraping her five months ago, threatened to rape her again if she didn’t withdraw her complaint.

The girl had earlier been gangraped by the five men who also lived in the same village as her. According to reports, the parents had filed a report with the police, named the accused, and even took the matter to the Chief Minister, and yet the five men continued to walk freely in the village after the local police gave them a ‘clean chit’.

According to Hindustan Times, the girl’s family had lodged a case of gangrape against the accused two months ago at Ramala police station of the district. The police conducted a ‘probe’, and two months later concluded that “no proof of gangrape was found in the case.”

On Friday, three of the accused intercepted the girl at the local market again, threatening her with rape and passed lewd comments on her. Upon reaching home, the minor narrated the incident to her mother, and later, committed suicide. The parents are holding the police responsible for their daughter’s death.

District police officials said that a case had been registered and investigation was on in the suicide case as well as why the accused were not arrested. “Stern action will be taken against the cops if any laxity was found on their part,” said a senior police official in Baghpat.

The five accused have also been arrested, pending further investigation.