A 23-year-old married woman allegedly chopped off her father-in-law’s private part in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district, accusing him of repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting her, while her husband was away for work in Haryana, police reported on Saturday. The 67-year-old alleged accused sustained grievous injuries, and has been hospitalized for treatment, the police added.

According to police, the incident unfolded on Friday night in the city’s Safipur Patti area falling under the jurisdiction of Budhana Kotwali police station. The injured man, identified as Zakir, was rushed to the hospital after police received information about the attack.

The woman, his daughter-in-law, was taken into custody from the crime scene for interrogation. Police said they are probing the case from all angles, though no complaint has been lodged so far from either side.

Woman alleges long-standing sexual assault

According to police, the woman lives with her two children at her matrimonial home, while her husband works as a rickshaw driver in Haryana.

During interrogation, she told the cops that her father-in-law had repeatedly raped and sexually harassed her in her husband’s absence. She then revealed that the alleged abuse continued for several days, prompting her to attack Zakir with a blade.

Police said the woman’s allegations are being verified at present.

Victim shifted to district hospital

Budhana Circle Officer (CO) Gajendra Pal Singh said police rushed to the house after being informed that a woman had attacked her father-in-law’s private part with a blade. Initially, Zakir was admitted to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Budhana, but was later referred to the District Hospital owing to the severity of his injuries. He is said to be critical as of now, police said.

Meanwhile, the woman remains in police detention and the cops are recording statements from family members as well as the residents of the area as part of the probe.

Neighbours claim woman had raised concerns earlier too

Residents of the locality claim that earlier too, the woman had narrated her ordeal. A neighbour, identified as Nazra, told the media that she had informed about the alleged sexual abuse to the neighbours. However, she alleged that no one took the claims seriously at the time.

Nazra added that people rarely entered the household and were largely unaware of what happened within the family. Police have not confirmed Nazra’s claims and said they are verifying all statements before drawing a conclusion.