Girl in Uttar Pradesh shot dead four days after alleging sexual harassment

A 17-year-old girl was shot dead in Banda on Friday night, less than a week after she complained to the local police of sexual harassment by four people.

The nursing student’s body was found the next morning, after a neighbour noticed blood at the doorway of her rented house in Noniya Mohal area and alerted the police. According to sources, she was found lying near the door with a bullet injury on the left side of her chest. A preliminary investigation has revealed that the girl was shot soon after she opened the door.

“The accused have been identified. An investigation is on,” said Banda superintendent of police Shalini.

Incidentally, the victim had named four people in a sexual harassment complaint submitted to the Balkhandi Naka police on Tuesday. Sources in the police department said her complaint was not registered, although policemen visited her place on two occasions since then.

Kotali station house officer Shri Nivas Yadav said they have taken three of the suspects into custody, but the fourth was still on the run.

According to police, the victim had come to Banda from Mahoba recently to enroll in a nursing course. She moved into a rented accommodation last month, after staying initially with her sister’s family.