Delhi: Stalked, harassed by neighbor, police aspirant hangs herself
What's the story
Unable to cope with the constant stalking by her neighbor, a 17-year-old of Delhi's Rohini hanged herself in her house two days ago. The family said they had confronted the accused when she had informed them, but their landlord, his relative, ordered them to vacate the house instead. The girl, preparing for a police recruitment-test, held herself responsible for the family's troubles, they said.
Harassment
'Men wherever I go, not letting me do anything'
Describing her ordeal, her mother said, "When she would go out jogging, that man would chase her, offer to train her and take the opportunity to touch her inappropriately." Earlier this week, he allegedly offered to get her a job with the Delhi Police, but only if she married him. When she refused, he threatened to kill her family, her father said.
Eviction
When they complained, landlord ordered them out of the house
Soon after, the family confronted the accused, but his relatives ordered them to vacate the house instead. Apart from blaming the men for "ruining her life," she wrote in her suicide note that her death could save her family from eviction. However, the landlord said they hadn't been paying rent on time, and denied the accused had anything to do with her.
Laws
Stalking often a precursor to serious crimes: Shashi Tharoor
On Friday morning, she hung herself with a dupatta from a fan when she was alone at home. A neighbor who heard her cries alerted her family, but by the time they reached, she had died. A case has now been lodged against the accused and his friends, who are absconding. Stalking is punishable by imprisonment of up to three years under Section 354D.
Tips
What to do if you are being stalked
Recently, a jilted lover stabbed a woman to death in Delhi. A Chennai techie was hacked to death for rejecting a man's advances. Take steps to prevent similar crimes. The key is to draw attention. If someone's following you, click a picture. Give friends your location details. If you are being harassed online, take screenshots of abusive messages. Save police's number on your phone.