Body of Dalit rape victim found hanging at her house in UP's Barabanki

The body of a 16-year-old Dalit girl, an alleged rape victim who had to appear before a magistrate to record her statements, was found hanging at her house in the Haidergarh area here on Thursday, police said.The investigating officer IO of the case has also been suspended for dereliction of duty.Superintendent of Police SP Dinesh Kumar Singh said, A case of rape was lodged at Haidergarh police station on June 17.

The body of a 16-year-old Dalit girl, an alleged rape victim who had to appear before a magistrate to record her statements, was found hanging at her house in the Haidergarh area here on Thursday, police said.

The investigating officer (IO) of the case has also been suspended for dereliction of duty.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Dinesh Kumar Singh said, ''A case of rape was lodged at Haidergarh police station on June 17. The accused in the case was detained on Thursday and the girl was to appear before a magistrate to register her statement.'' ''The teenage victim in the case has allegedly committed suicide at her home. We have sent the body for postmortem examination and further investigation is being done,'' he said.

The family members of the deceased have alleged that the teen committed suicide as the police failed to arrest the accused who was threatening her to withdraw the case.

''The allegations made by the family members regarding police action in the case are also being looked into. Investigating Officer Yogendra Pratap Singh has been suspended for dereliction of duty,'' the SP added.