A middle-aged Dalit woman who survived a sexual assault on September 28, died by suicide at Narsinghpur in Madhya Pradesh on October 2, said a Hindustan Times report. The woman’s family alleged that local police did not lodge their complaint.
Gadarwara Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) S R Yadav said that the assistant sub-inspector Mishrilal Kodapa of Gotitoriya police outpost under Chichli police station was suspended for laxity in duty.
Moreover, Director General of Police (DGP), Vivek Johri said that they had also lodged an FIR against Kodapa for his alleged refusal to lodge the FIR. The suspended officer was arrested for knowingly disobeying directions under law. However, he was later granted bail.
Meanwhile, two of the three persons booked for gang-rape have been arrested. Similarly, one person accused for abetment to suicide was also arrested.
The woman’s husband said that his wife had gone to the field with her two nieces to cut grass for cattle. According to a Times Now report, the two girls saw the accused hold and tease their aunt. However, they did not confirm the rape allegations. When the girls screamed for help, the attackers fled, they said.
The husband approached the Gotitoria police on the same night to file the FIR. However, the police personnel didn’t do so. Instead, he told the husband that a medical examination will be conducted next day.
The family went on to approach the Chichli police station the next day. There, the husband and his elder brother were put in the lock-up while the wife was abused. The woman also suffered taunts from a neighbourhood woman following which the victim died by suicide.
According to sub-divisional officer of police Seetaram Yadav, the verbal complaint lodged by the couple was vague.
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