Uttar Pradesh: 17-Yr-Old Girl Shot Dead After She Allegedly Complained Against Sexual Harassment
Representational Image: Indian Express, India.com

Uttar Pradesh: 17-Yr-Old Girl Shot Dead After She Allegedly Complained Against Sexual Harassment

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A 17-year-old girl was shot dead at her Noniya Mohal residence in Banda district on Friday, just four days after she allegedly filed a sexual harassment complaint with the local police.

The deceased, identified as Sita Sharma (name changed to protect identity), a native of Mahoba district in Uttar Pradesh, had recently moved to Banda to study for a nursing course. Her body was discovered on Saturday morning, when a neighbour noticed blood in the doorway of her rented house, and alerted the police. She was found lying near the door with a bullet injury on the left side of her chest.

As per reports, the victim had accused four men in a sexual harassment complaint submitted to the Balkhandi Naka police on Tuesday, June 5 but her complaint was not registered.

The elder sister of the deceased girl told Times of India that despite her complaint to the police about being subjected to “abuse and vulgar comments” by the molesters, no serious action was taken by the police.

“They were questioned only once by the police on her complaint at Kotwali police station, after which they started venting their anger by showering abuses on her whenever they liked,” she said.

The mourning sister demanded that the culprits be hanged. “Merely arresting culprits and sending them jail can’t bring my sister back. We want justice. They should be hanged,” she told Times of India.

Sri Nivas Yadav, the station house officer Kotwali police station said, “Three aides of the main accused have been detained and their interrogation is underway. Separate teams have been formed to nail down the main accused, who is on run. Further investigations are underway in this regard.”


What do the police have to say?

When The Logical Indian spoke to the local police officials, they said that it is a serious issue if a sexual harassment complaint was not registered, so every constable who was on duty was asked both formally and informally whether any such complaint was made. The police officials assert that Sita never came to the station or the chowki to file any sexual harassment complaint.

Regarding the ongoing investigation, they said that the full details will emerge when the alleged murderer is caught.

The police officials also suggested that there is definitely physical and material evidence linking the accused to the crime.


The Logical Indian Take

A 17-yr-old suffered a terrible fate. Even though the version given by the victim’s family is not entirely consistent with the police’s version, we urge the police to swiftly nab the accused.

Sexual harassment is a seriously wide-spread and overwhelmingly under-reported issue. The victims fear increased harassment and apathy on the part of the administration, and they continue to suffer in silence. This case again highlights that the issue of sexual harassment cannot be taken lightly and if one knows of such case, they must complain and police should arrest the culprit.

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Editor : The Logical Indian

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