Wayanad (Kerala), February 18 A 16-year-old girl, alleged to have been a victim of sexual assault, committed suicide at her home near Meppadi here two days ago, police said on Wednesday.
The girl, a student in the 11th grade, had been experiencing mental distress for several years and was undergoing psychiatric treatment, police said.
She had made three suicide attempts in the past two years, they said.
The girl had recently confided in her psychiatrist about the sexual assault perpetrated by a relative and a neighbor, who in turn informed her father, police said.
The father informed the school counselor, who then informed the police, a Meppadi police station officer said.
The two accused were immediately arrested and booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the officer said.
The duo was remanded in judicial custody last week, and since then, the police have been carrying out further investigative activities, including recording the victim's statement and collecting evidence, he said.
According to the girl, the relative had sexually assaulted her once, while the neighbor had done so multiple times since 2025.
He said that, given the girl's pre-existing mental distress, it is necessary to investigate the factors that led her to take this extreme step.