Rape victim consumes poison outside police station in UP’s Pilibhit alleging apathy, dies

In a video circulating on social media, the woman can be heard accusing the area police station’s SHO of accepting money from the accused, 31, and failing to probe the case. She can also be heard claiming that the SHO urged her to consume poisonous substances, a charge denied by the police officer.

According to the Pilibhit police, the woman consumed poison after she came to know that the accused secretly got married two months ago. The woman and the rape accused were in a relationship for the past seven years, they said.

Virendra Kumar, Additional Superintendent of Police, said Pilibhit Superintendent of Police Avinash Pandey instructed Circle Officer Deepak Chaturvedi to conduct an inquiry into the matter and submit a report as soon as possible.

In May, the woman lodged an FIR against the accused on charges of rape at the area police station. The victim claimed the accused had deceived her under the pretext of marrying her. She also alleged that the accused had gone to Dubai about three years ago, and when he recently returned to India, he refused to marry her.

The local police investigated the case, conducted a medical examination of the victim, and recorded her statement before a magistrate. They then prepared a closure report and sent it to the circle officer for approval before forwarding it to a court. However, the circle officer returned the closure report, requesting further investigation into the matter.