Molestation victim takes poison, critical

Tribune News Service

Hisar, June 18

A 13-year-old girl tried to end her life over repeated molestation and harassment by a man of her village in the district.

The girl, a Class VIII student, was alone at her home after returning from the fields on Saturday when she took a poisonous substance to commit suicide. She was rushed to a private hospital where her condition continues to be critical.

A police spokesperson said a case under Sections 354 A (sexual harassment) and 354D (stalking) of the IPC and Section 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was registered against the accused, identified as Praveen, on Monday.

Sources said fed up with the trauma and passing of lewd remarks against her, the girl started living with her grandfather at ‘dhani’ located in the fields. She refused to return home in the village and did not reveal the reason for it.

About 15 days ago, she broke down when her mother counselled her. She revealed to her mother that one of their neighbours, who is married and father of a child, had been harassing her for about four months. He used to harass the victim on finding her alone on her way to school. To avoid him, she shifted out of the village.

The victim’s family said the girl was extremely disturbed over harassment. They took up the matter with the Gram Panchayat, which summoned the man and his family.

In the meantime, the girl took poison on Saturday in an attempt to end her life.

The investigating officer in the case, Ashok Kumar, said they had started an investigation into the case.