Teen rape survivor’s father, cousin held after accused ‘ends life’ in UP

“After the 21-year-old rape accused died allegedly by suicide, his family lodged a complaint against the girl’s family members. An FIR has been registered against six persons under IPC section 306 (abetment of suicide) and under different sections of the anti-conversion law. The rape survivor’s father and cousin have been arrested,” Circle Officer (Auraiya) Mahendra Pratap Singh said. A purported video of the rape accused blaming the girl’s family for allegedly forcing him to take the extreme step had also gone viral, said police.

According to police, the 21-year-old was booked for kidnapping the 16-year-old girl this September. After 21 days when the girl was found, the police booked him for rape under the Prevention of Children Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). He was arrested and police filed a chargesheet in court.

In the first week of November, the rape accused was released on bail. According to police, the family of the rape accused said that he met the girl’s family, who allegedly agreed to settle the matter only if he converted to Islam and marry the girl.

“Depressed over it, he consumed some poisonous substance at his residence on December 18. The family took him to a hospital where he died during treatment a day later,” the police said quoting the family of the rape accused.