Lucknow, March 21 A man was arrested on Saturday for allegedly raping and killing his 17-year-old niece in Lucknow, police said.
On March 19, the victim's brother filed a complaint against his maternal uncle, Kuldeep Maurya (28), alleging that he had taken his sister away on his motorcycle.
The complainant told police that he and his sister lived at their maternal uncle's home. He alleged that on the evening of March 18, around 8:30 pm, Kuldeep left the house on his motorcycle, taking the girl along under the pretext of visiting a doctor in Pili Colony.
However, the accused took the girl to an area near the pontoon bridge, where he raped her. When the victim resisted, Kuldeep pushed her into the Gomti River, resulting in her death, the police said.
Subsequently, Kuldeep called the complainant and told him that some individuals travelling in a four-wheeler had verbally abused them, chased them, and forcibly taken the girl away, they said.
Upon reaching the location, the complainant found Kuldeep in an inebriated state, while his sister's clothes and slippers were found lying at the spot.
However, based on an examination of CCTV footage and the statements of witnesses, the information provided by Kuldeep was found to be false, the police said.
Based on the evidence gathered, an FIR was registered against the accused under sections 103(1) (punishment for murder) and 64(1) (punishment for rape) of the BNS and provisions of the POCSO Act, they said.
On Saturday, acting upon information received from an informant, the accused was arrested, the police said, adding that further investigation is underway.