Raped Dalit teen immolates herself over police inaction

LUCKNOW - A teenaged Dalit girl in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district Friday immolated herself after police refused to register her complaint of rape against a youth of her village, officials said.

The 15-year-old set herself ablaze in her house in Parauli village in Kanpur, some 80 km from Lucknow.

The girl’s family alleged that she was forced to take the extreme step by some of the policemen who had connived with the youth and were mounting pressure on her not to register the complaint against him.

“An enquiry has been initiated against a Station House Officer (SHO) Kalu Ram and a police constable Virendra Kumar in connection with the case. The two have been transferred to the police line till the enquiry is completed,” Deputy Superintendent of Police P.P. Singh told reporters in Kanpur.

According to police, the girl was allegedly raped Thursday night by a youth of her village.

“As of now no arrest has been made. But, we have received information about the accused and he would soon be arrested soon,” said Singh.