Chennai: In An Act Of Self Defence, 19-Year-Old Girl Kills Man in Sholavaram

A 19-year-old girl killed a 24-year-old man who allegedly tried to rape her at knife point. The girl reacted in self defence and the incident took place in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu on January 2nd. A case has been registered with the Sholavaram police station which is in the same district.

According to the Times of India report, police said that girl from Tiruvallur had come to visit her aunt living in Sholavaram. A man, reportedly her relative, approached the girl when she went out to the toilet in the nearby farm.

According to the Sholavaram police, the man was drunk when he allegedly sexually harassed the girl and tried to rape her at knife point. A police officer in charge said, "In an act of self defence, the girl pushed him away. Once he fell, she overpowered him and snatched his knife. She then stabbed him on the face and neck. Ajith died on the spot."

The girl rushed to the Sholavaram police station immediately on her own and narrated the incident.

An inspector has started investigating the case. A statement of the police said, "We have registered a case and have started investigation. We have taken note of the girl's version. We will also check if there were any eye witnesses and a detailed probe will be conducted."

Ponneri DSP Kalpana Dutt said that a legal opinion has been sought and the girl may not be arrested in the case.

Is self defence a crime in India?

“Necessity knows no law” is a common saying which means that an act done out of necessity cannot be subjected to the rules of law.

The penal law in India provides to every individual governed by the laws in India a right to self defence i.e. a right to defend one's self against any attack by another. According to the right of private defence sections 96 and 97 of the Indian Penal Code, nothing is an offence which is done in the exercise of the right of private defence. Further, according to the right of private defence of the body and property, every person has a right to defend his own body or that of any other person or against any offence affecting the human body.

But some conditions have to be considered before the court grants acquittal to a person claiming self defence.This case is a developing story.