Two minor girls found dead and hanging from a tree in Kanpur, allegedly gang-raped and blackmailed

Two minor girls aged 14 and 16 allegedly died by suicide after being gang-raped in the Kotwali area of Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur district on Wednesday night. According to the police, the bodies were found hanging from a tree. The minors were allegedly forced to drink liquor and gang-raped by three men. A local kiln owner identified as Ramroop Nishad (48), his son Rajju (18) and his nephew Sanjay (19) have been arrested based on complaints filed by the parents of the two victims.

As per reports, the two girls were related to each other and were distant relatives of the accused. The parents complained that the three men accused had allegedly sexually assaulted their daughters, made obscene videos of the act and used the videos to blackmail their children, which compelled them to commit suicide.

Medical examination of the three accused is underway. According to Additional Police Commissioner Harish Chander, a case has also been filed under the POCSO Act, IT Act and IPC Sections 376(d) (gang rape) and 306 (abetment to suicide). “It has been said the girls were beaten and, based on some videos, were sexually assaulted… Post-mortem is being conducted, and police forces have been deployed in the area,” added Harish Chander.

The Additional Police Commissioner also informed that the victim’s father and brother both were working in the brick kiln owned by Ramroop Nishad. On Wednesday, all workers at the kiln had received wages for 15 days, following which the two men had gone to the market. Seeing this as an opportunity, the three accused arrived at the residence of the two minors and sexually harassed them and made obscene videos. The family stated that the girls had gone to relieve themselves to the fields late that evening. Their bodies were later found hanging from a plum tree less than 400 meters from the kiln belonging to accused Ramroop Nishad.

The police have recovered the obscene videos from the mobile phones of the accused, and they are reportedly being examined.​