Teen Rape Victim's Body Found Hanging From Tree; Accused Rapist Allegedly Murdered Her

A 17-year-old girl's lifeless body was found hanging from a tree near her home in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police confirmed, nearly a month after she was allegedly raped by a fellow villager.

The girl was found on a tree in a sugarcane field around 100 yards away from her home in the village of Ikona in Amroha district Sunday, The Times of India reported. Her body was spotted by a farmer, according to the outlet.

The minor's family later filed a complaint against a village resident named Monu Sharma, whom they claimed was responsible for the girl's death.

Sharma allegedly raped the girl on Sept. 25, and a case was registered against him prior to the minor's death, according to Adampur station house officer Sateesh Kumar Arya.

After the alleged attack, Sharma allegedly threatened to kill the girl and her family and forced them to withdraw their rape case against him.

The girl's family said they approached authorities after the alleged rape, but no action was taken against Sharma, the report said.

Following the girl's death, police registered a murder case against Sharma under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act, but no arrest could be made as the accused is on the run.

The body of the girl has been sent for autopsy, Arya said.

A similar incident happened in Maharashtra, India, when a 16-year-old girl took her life after the man accused of raping her was released on bail in June, police announced in September.

The unnamed girl hanged herself from the ceiling of the home she shared with her father, stepmother and brother in the city of Nagpur, senior inspector Nitin Phatangare of the Jaripatka police station was quoted as saying.

The girl had been depressed since her stepmother's relative, who was charged and arrested for allegedly raping her back in June, was released on bail, according to police.

A case of accidental death has been registered following the girl's death, and her body was sent for post-mortem, the police inspector said.

The victim's identities were not revealed to protect their privacy in accordance with the Supreme Court's directives on cases related to sexual assault.

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