Daijiworld Media Network - Shivpuri
Shivpuri, Jun 7: A teenage girl is battling for life after she was allegedly attacked with an axe and assaulted by a man in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district on Friday, triggering outrage among local residents and leading to protests in the village.
Police said the incident occurred at around 8 am when the girl was alone at home while her family members had gone to work in the fields. The accused, a 22-year-old man who lived near the victim's residence, allegedly entered the house and attacked her with an axe, causing serious injuries.
According to investigators, the girl attempted to escape and ran to the terrace of her house. The accused allegedly chased her and continued the assault.
Family members of the victim alleged that the accused then tied a rope around the girl's neck and attempted to hang her from the rooftop before she fell to the ground. A video that later surfaced on social media purportedly showed the injured girl hanging from the edge of the terrace before falling.
Hearing her cries for help, villagers rushed to the spot and found the teenager critically injured and bleeding. She was initially admitted to the Shivpuri Medical College and later shifted to a hospital in Gwalior for advanced treatment.
Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the accused had allegedly been pursuing the minor girl for some time. Villagers informed investigators that tensions had existed between the two families for the past few weeks after the accused allegedly stopped the girl on a village road.
A village panchayat had reportedly intervened earlier and a compromise was reached between the families.
The attack sparked widespread anger in the village, with relatives of the victim and local residents staging a road blockade and demanding strict action against those responsible.
The protest continued for several hours before senior police and administrative officials reached the spot and assured demonstrators that stringent legal action would be taken.
Confirming the arrests, Sanjeev Mule said four people had been taken into custody, including family members of the main accused.
According to police, the dispute stemmed from the accused's alleged desire to be in a relationship with the minor girl, which was opposed by her family. The arrested family members are also accused of assaulting members of the victim's family.
Police said further investigation is underway and additional legal action will be taken based on the findings.