UP rape victim’s body ‘burnt’ in attempt to destroy proof

A woman (21) was allegedly raped and strangled to death by her brother-in-law and two others, after which they burned her body in a bid to destroy evidence in UP’s Muzaffarnagar district, the police said on Saturday.

SP (Rural) Aditya Bansal said the main accused, Ashish, has been arrested, while Shubham and Deepak are absconding.

The incident took place in Bavana village of Budhana area, when the woman's family reported her missing on January 23. The probe revealed that Ashish, her elder sister's husband, was pressuring her to marry him, the police said.

According to officials, the accused along with his associates, lured the woman away from her home, gang-raped her and later strangled her to death. They, then, allegedly burned her body in an attempt to destroy the evidence.

"Ashish was arrested, following which he confessed to the crime. The woman's charred remains have been recovered and a forensic examination is underway," he added.

A case has been registered against the accused, and efforts are on to apprehend the absconding duo.