Firozabad: Inquiry begins into Dalit girl’s ‘suicide’ over ‘harassment’ by Rajasthan police

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Officers of Nagla Khangar police station in Firozabad said although no suicide note was recovered from the spot, the girl was found hanging Thursday by her family members who claimed that the step was the result of the “raid” by officers of Rajakhera police station
from Rajasthan’s Dholpur district earlier that day. Police said the post-mortem report has confirmed the death was caused by hanging.
Sub-inspector Ram Babu Singh said some policemen from Rajasthan had visited Nagla Dhuli village Monday and arrested one Abhishek, the victim’s neighbour, in connection with a theft case.

On Thursday, the officers returned to the village and went to the girl’s house in the afternoon for “investigation” and returned after questioning. At the time, only Julie and her younger sister were present in the house, the S-I added.

As news about Julie’s death spread, locals gathered outside her house and demanded action. On Saturday, the victim’s family members, who belong to the Jatav community, and some locals met Firozabad’s Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar, requesting him to initiate action against the police team which had “raided” the house and also “harassed” the girl.

The SP confirmed that an inquiry into the allegations made by the girl’s family has been started, adding, so far they have “not found any evidence” hinting any wrongdoing by the officers of Rajasthan police.

Meanwhile, the in-charge of Rajakhera police station in Rajasthan, Sita Ram, rejected the allegations of harassment .

“The team had gone to Firozabad in connection with two theft cases lodged on January 24. Miscreants took away three buffalos after hitting a woman and an elderly man. We have CCTV footage of Abhishek who has been arrested. Our team went to the village on Thursday to arrest the girl’s two brothers, Sanju and Deep, the other two accused in the case. They were not present in the house. Our officers have denied all the allegations made by the girl’s family,” he said.