Tragic suicide of Damoh student in Madhya Pradesh after gang-rape, blackmail by schoolmates sparks investigation

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A class 11 student in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh, tragically died by suicide after being gang-raped and subsequently blackmailed by four of her schoolmates. The accused filmed the assault and threatened to disseminate the video if she disclosed the incident. Initially, the victim's family chose not to report the crime; however, her distress escalated due to the ongoing blackmail, ultimately leading her to take her own life.

On Thursday, the victim's family filed a police complaint against the four boys involved. According to her father, the boys forcibly took her to a secluded area after school on Monday and took turns raping her. They recorded the assault on their mobile phones and warned her against speaking out.

The girl confided in her mother about the incident on Tuesday, but the family did not report it to the authorities right away. She continued attending school until Thursday, but her situation worsened when the boys began blackmailing her with the video footage of the assault.

On Friday, when she failed to attend class, the school notified her father of her absence. Concerned, he rushed home only to discover that she had taken her own life. Following this tragic event, police have registered a case against the accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and are actively searching for them. The identity of the victim has not been disclosed in accordance with Supreme Court directives aimed at protecting the privacy of individuals involved in sexual assault cases.