Agra: Man, accused of molestation, declared innocent; victim kills self
In a shocking incident, a victim of molestation took her life in Agra on Tuesday after the accused was let scot-free by the village panchayat. The 35-year-old victim wrote in her suicide note she was forced to 'reach a compromise' and she couldn't live with the shame. She wrote she took extreme step as there's no respect left for her in her children's eyes.
After woman was molested, panchayat suggested her to reach 'compromise'
The victim was allegedly molested on the intervening night of December 29 and 30. A day later, on December 31, the village panchayat asked the woman to reach a compromise. Upset with this decision, the woman used her husband's licensed gun to shoot herself. Her husband was at work and her kids were sitting outside their home, near a fire, when the incident happened.
Police said victim's husband approached them, later panchayat intervened
Akhilesh N Singh, Superintendent of Police (West), Agra district, said after the woman was molested, her husband approached the police and wanted to file a complaint. But a day later, the officials learned the village panchayat intervened and a 'settlement' was reached. "A team of police had also been deployed to contain a possible law and order situation," he said.
Accused booked for abetment of suicide, arrested
After the woman killed herself, the police filed an FIR under IPC Sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 354 (assault against a woman) against the accused and other members of the panchayat. The accused was arrested and he has reportedly confessed to his crime. Station House Officer Girish Chandra Gautam claimed the accused was waiting to 'catch the victim alone'.
Sarpanch says such matters are dealt by panchayat
About the panchayat's decision, the sarpanch said such matters are usually handled in the village itself. "In this case, the victim's family was initially okay with the compromise. Something changed their minds. We could not have foreseen the suicide," she said. Her husband, who allegedly headed the panchayat, is at large. "Role of the panchayat members is a matter of investigation," an officer said.
