19-yr-old domestic help found hanging, kin allege foul play

A 19-year-old girl working as a domestic help in a house on the Pakhowal road here died under mysterious circumstances on Wednesday. She allegedly died by suicide by hanging herself at her room in the house. After the family of the deceased came to know about the death, they levelled allegations that the victim was raped and murdered.

The deceased’s kin also created a ruckus at Circuit House Chowk on Ferozepur road. Some people even threw bricks and stones at the police. The police personnel faced a tough time controlling the protesters. As they were moving towards the house where the girl was working, the police had to make security arrangements at the place to prevent any untoward incident.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Civil Lines, Jatin Bansal, who rushed to the spot, managed to handle the protesters. He assured them that after arrival of the autopsy report, action would be taken against the guilty.

The girl’s family members alleged that the victim had been working in the house for the past nine months.

As they had gathered on the Ferozepur road, traffic movement was also got affected for sometime but the police controlled the situation.

Bansal said the body of the girl was kept in the mortuary and the autopsy would be performed by a board of doctors. If any sexual assault was found, action would be taken without delay and justice would be provided to the deceased.

The owner of the house, Manish, told mediapersons that the maid comes downstair every morning on her own. But when she did not come out of the room this morning, his wife knocked on the door. Despite repeated knocks when she did not open the door, suspecting some foul play, she raised the alarm. Afterwards, the police and area residents were informed. As the door was locked from inside, it was broken and the girl was found hanging. The body was brought down under the supervision of the police. While denying allegations of rape and murder, the owner said the police should conduct a thorough probe and the truth would come out.