Daijiworld Media Network - Banda
Banda, Jan 2: In a tragic New Year incident, an 18-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda allegedly killed her neighbour while trying to protect herself from an attempted sexual assault, police said.
The incident occurred when the man, a 45-year-old farmer, allegedly entered the girl’s house in an intoxicated condition and tried to assault her. The girl was alone at home at the time. In an act of self-defence, she allegedly attacked him with an axe, resulting in his death.
Police said the girl later reached a nearby police outpost and surrendered. Acting on the information, police rushed to the spot, recovered the body and took it into custody for further legal formalities. The girl was subsequently arrested.
Superintendent of Police Palash Agarwal said evidence collected so far indicated that the incident appeared to be an act of self-defence. He added that all available evidence would be placed before the court, which would take a final decision in the matter.
During the preliminary inquiry, police found that the farmer frequently visited the girl’s house to meet her mother. On Thursday afternoon, he reportedly came to the house on the pretext of some work and stayed back as the girl’s mother had gone to the fields. Police said the man was heavily drunk at the time.
According to the inquiry, the man allegedly shut the door and attempted to sexually assault the girl. She initially tried to flee but was unable to escape. In a bid to save herself, she picked up an axe and struck him multiple times. Police said she later used a stick to hit him after he fell unconscious.
Police further said the girl lives with her mother and that her father died a few years ago. She had discontinued her studies after completing intermediate education.
Based on a complaint filed by the deceased man’s wife, police have registered a case of murder against the girl. Police officials said she would be produced before a court on Friday, and the prosecution would inform the court that the teenager acted while trying to protect herself after the man allegedly attempted to sexually assault her.