Dalit teenager dies six days after gang rape in Firozabad

A 17-year-old Dalit teenager died on Friday at a hospital in Agra in the Firozabad district of Uttar Pradesh. The teenager was accused of being gang-raped and assaulted by three individuals, including her boyfriend. She had been fighting between life and death for six days following the incident.

According to a report by News18, police investigations revealed that the teenager was found unconscious in a field on the morning of 1 November, with injury marks on her body. She was initially taken to a local hospital, but due to her extremely critical condition, doctors referred her to Agra for treatment, where she passed away on Friday.

In the action taken by the police, the teenager's alleged 21-year-old boyfriend Rishi Yadav and his 28-year-old elder brother Jagat Yadav were arrested following an encounter on 2 November. Both accused sustained gunshot wounds to their legs. Subsequently, on 3 November, Rishi's friend Ashik, alias Shivanshu (24), was also arrested. All three accused are residents of a neighbouring village and belong to the OBC category. According to the police, these three individuals were earning their livelihood by doing various small jobs such as driving tractors.

Providing details of the incident, the police stated that the involvement of these three men was proven through technical surveillance and examination of Call Detail Records (CDR). During interrogation, Rishi Yadav told investigators that he had been in contact with the teenager for the last six months. He is accused of calling the teenager to a field on 31 October and raping her there. According to the police, Ashik also attempted to rape the teenager, but she resisted. Jagat was also present there during this time. The accused had beaten the teenager with footwear and attempted to strangle her, causing her to lose consciousness. Subsequently, the three accused fled from the spot.

The teenager's family members told the police that she had gone out of the house on the evening of 31 October for defecation but had not returned. Her relatives contacted her friends and acquaintances to search for her, but she could not be found. The next morning, a local resident spotted her in a field located about one kilometre from her house.

An officer from the concerned police station stated that the post-mortem of the body was conducted in Agra, but the report has not yet been received. He further added that there were injury marks on the teenager's neck. Currently, all three accused are in jail.

Following the death of the teenager, her family and relatives have demanded strict legal action against the accused and adequate compensation. Members of local organisations and relatives also attempted to hold protest demonstrations regarding the incident, prompting senior police and administrative officials to reach the village. Officials have assured the family that strict action will be taken against the accused.