Living in the room next to the 17-year-old who allegedly committed suicide on Friday, her 14-year-old friend, who studied in the same school as her, recalled that the girl wanted to join the Delhi Police. She added that the man who began to harass the victim spotted the 17-year-old during the morning runs they used to go on.
The Class VIII student, initially hesitant to talk, said she and the victim used to leave their house daily around 5.30 a.m.
Morning run
“Didi [the victim] wanted to be fit to become a police officer. Both of us have been going for morning run for an hour- and-a-half for the last three months. But about a month-and-a-half ago, this man started following her,” she said.
The accused, who is absconding, allegedly told the girl that he would help her with physical fitness.
The girl, her friend said, used to deny help politely in the beginning but the accused wouldn’t let go.
“He would follow us and try to talk to didi. She would sometimes refuse and sometimes just leave without answering,” she said.
However, around 10 days ago, the accused allegedly held her hand forcibly.
The friend claimed that the victim got angry and threatened him that she would tell her parents.
“Boldo jisko bolna hai, mujhe farak nai padta (Do whatever you want, I don’t care),” he allegedly responded. Two days later, the accused allegedly entered her house believing that her parents weren’t home.
“He thought her parents may not be home so he would talk to her but she got annoyed, turned him away and told her parents,” the friend said.
A neighbour remembered the victim as a bright girl “who was good in studies and wanted to become something in life”.
