A 16-year-old victim of sexual assault who delivered a child eight months ago allegedly committed suicide on Wednesday.

She was found hanging by the neck at her residence in Madurai district, reports TNIE.

According to reports, the deceased was raped by her brother-in-law about a year and a half back.

She did not immediately confide the matter to her parents but once she became pregnant, she was forced to reveal the incident.

A complaint was reportedly lodged at the All Women Police Station and a case was registered against Lakshmanan under the POCSO Act. He was then arrested and sent to Madurai Central Prison.

The girl meanwhile delivered a female child through a C-section. She was however, reportedly drained both mentally and physically by the incident. Reports suggest that she committed suicide due to the trauma.

This is not the first time that rape survivors have taken steps to end their lives. In Salem district last year, a 14-year-old committed suicide by consuming poison after her parents did not file a complaint against her rapist.

The 18-year-old rapist had assaulted her near a lake and abandoned her with her hands tied to the back.