In Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh, a 33-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping and murdering his 14-year-old cousin. The crime occurred shortly after the young girl tied a rakhi on his wrist during Rakshabandhan celebrations.

According to police reports, the accused, identified as Surjeet, visited his uncle's home on Saturday morning. Later that night, after consuming alcohol, he allegedly sexually assaulted the teenager while she was sleeping. He then murdered her and attempted to stage the scene to appear as a suicide by hanging her body. The victim's father was in another room and unaware of the events unfolding.

The following day, Surjeet returned to the house and tried to mislead the ongoing police investigation. His behavior, which included hindering family members from answering questions and dominating conversations, raised suspicion among the authorities. Surjeet was eventually detained and confessed to the crime during interrogation.

Auraiya's Superintendent of Police, Abhijeet Shankar, confirmed that a post-mortem examination verified the sexual assault. Further forensic evidence was collected, including hair found in the teenager's nails and hand. Samples from the suspect's hair have been sent to a forensic science lab in Jhansi for comparison.

This heinous crime has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the safety of minors, especially within family settings. Some are calling for stricter laws to protect minors from sexual violence. This incident is not isolated, as another case from March 2022 involved a man arrested for raping his 12-year-old cousin in Bhadohi district, Uttar Pradesh. There was also another incident involving a man killing his sister after Raksha Bandhan because he was upset with her affair.