Dalit girl found dead in Barabanki, family suspects sexual assault

Body of a 17-year-old Dalit girl with limbs tied was found in a paddy field in a Barabanki village, nearly 40 km from Lucknow, late on Wednesday night. Initial probe suggested that she had been strangulated to death, said police.

Family members told media persons that the girl’s body was semi-naked and they suspected sexual assault on her before murder.

IG (Ayodhya range), Sanjeev Gupta confirmed that the postmortem report indicated towards sexual assault but it was not conclusive as yet. Earlier, the local police and the administration did not share the post-mortem report findings. They had sought opinion from doctors, who carried out the post-mortem examination, over possibility of sexual assault with the girl.

Meanwhile, two suspects were picked up for interrogation and further probe was on. A police team was camping in the village to ensure peace, said Ram Surat Sonker, CO, Barabanki Sadar. An FIR under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 302 for murder had been registered against unidentified people and further sections will be added, as per the investigation findings, said a senior police official.

He said a team led by an additional SP rank officer was formed to investigate the case.

Barabanki officiating SP, RS Gautam, said the incident occurred in Tipri village under Satrikh police station limits.

“The girl was missing since she left home to cut the paddy crop. Later, her body was found lying in the field when family members reached there, searching for her on Wednesday night,” he said. Gautam said the girl apparently had been choked with her shirt, and her clothes were torn. He said the girl’s family had not raised suspicion on anybody, but the circumstances hinted at the involvement of at least two persons in the crime.