A 17-year-old girl has died in India after her family alleged she was raped by a 22-year-old man she had been dating. Police have arrested the suspect and are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.
The teenager passed away in the early hours of Sunday following severe injuries and heavy bleeding. A relative said she had been in "severe pain" for several days before her death.
Family's account
According to a complaint filed by her father, the teenager left home on August 6 to attend college, then told him she intended to visit a relative after classes. When she failed to arrive, her family began searching for her. They later learned she had been admitted to hospital with serious injuries and excessive bleeding.
The family alleges the teenager was raped at a guest house. They also claim they were offered money to settle the matter out of court and were threatened if they reported it to police. Officers said these allegations are being investigated separately.
Police investigation
Police reported that the teenager remained unconscious for nearly three days and was taken to two hospitals before being transferred to a specialist facility, where she later died. A high-ranking police officer said: "The accused has been rounded up. A panel conducted the girl's postmortem in the presence of a forensic team."
Investigators are also examining the teenager's medical history, the treatment she received at the hospitals, and the precise cause of the injuries and infection that led to her death. Police revealed that the accused and the teenager had been in a relationship for approximately two years. A case has been lodged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and other relevant offences.
