Teen Jumps Off Apartment, Suicide Note Says Neighbor Abused Her

A 14-year-old girl in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh took her own life over the weekend after she was allegedly sexually harassed by a local political leader for several months, police said Sunday.

The unnamed victim jumped from the fifth floor of the Lotus Legend Apartments in Kummaripalem, Vijayawada, Saturday evening, The New Indian Express reported, citing Bhavanipuram police.

A suicide note from the deceased student accused the girl's fellow building tenant, identified as 49-year-old real estate businessman Vinod Jain, of sexually harassing her, according to NDTV.

"I did not tell you in the first place because I am so ashamed of this thing. If this is another problem in my life, I would not try to kill myself. But this matter is one I could not even handle," the girl's letter read.

The harassment, which police alleged lasted for two months, reportedly occurred when the victim used her apartment building's elevator or played in the cellar.

"Jain tried to molest the girl on several occasions. Afraid of complaining against him, the girl cried in silence and took the extreme step since she could bear the torment," West Zone assistant commissioner of police K. Hanumantha Rao was quoted as saying.

Bhavanipuram police later registered a case against Jain under sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code as well as relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act based on a complaint filed by the victim's grandfather.

Jain, who is also a local leader of the regional Telugu Desam Party, was arrested Sunday in connection to the allegations.

A postmortem on the victim was conducted Sunday. The teen’s body was then handed over to her family following the examination, a report by The Hindu said.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to police.

“The accused tormented the girl severely. We are trying to collect more evidence in the case,” police commissioner Kanthi Rana Tata said.

Mekathoti Sucharita, Andhra Pradesh's minister of Home Affairs and Disaster Management, has directed authorities to take action against Jain in accordance with the law.

Vasireddy Padma, the chairperson for the state's women commission, for her part, demanded stern action against the accused.

"There is nothing wrong even if the accused is hanged to death, for having driven the girl to suicide," Padma said after speaking to the victim's family members.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.