A woman in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district has accused her father-in-law of repeatedly raping her at gunpoint and alleged that her husband later divorced her by pronouncing triple talaq over the phone, police said on Thursday. She also alleged that when she raised an alarm after the incident, her mother-in-law, sister-in-law and brother-in-law assaulted her instead of helping her.
The woman, a resident of Lucknow who married in 2023, alleged that her father-in-law took advantage of her husband's absence for work and sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions, threatening her with a country-made pistol if she disclosed the incidents. She said the latest assault took place on January 24.
Police, however, said the husband claimed during questioning that his wife was involved in a relationship with another person and that the couple had been facing marital disputes. The woman alleged that after she returned to her parental home, her husband ended the marriage by pronouncing triple talaq over the phone.
Based on the complaint, police have booked the husband, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act.
Rupaideha Station House Officer (SHO) Ramesh Kumar Rawat said the allegations and counterclaims are being investigated, and no arrests have been made so far.
"The matter is under investigation. Further action will be taken based on the facts that emerge during the probe," he said.
Notably, triple talaq was declared illegal in 2019. A Muslim husband who pronounces instant triple talaq can face up to three years in prison and a fine.
Source: ANI