Uttar Pradesh police registered a case and conducted a crime-scene investigation on Friday after a man allegedly murdered his wife by beheading her while she slept at their home in Hardoi district. The accused, identified as Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Shahjahanpur block, turned himself in at the local police station several hours after the incident, authorities confirmed.
According to police reports, the couple had been living together but their relationship had deteriorated significantly over recent months. Neighbours and family members said Rajesh Kumar had been constantly accusing his wife of having an extramarital affair, despite a lack of concrete evidence. These suspicions led to repeated arguments and intimidation at the household.
The victim's family, speaking to journalists outside the hospital where her body was taken, alleged that she had been physically abused and mentally tormented by her husband for more than a year. "She used to come to our house crying, saying he would threaten to kill her if she ever talked to anyone outside," said her elder brother, who requested anonymity. "We tried to intervene multiple times but nothing changed until this tragedy."
Hardoi Superintendent of Police, Rakesh Srivastava, confirmed that Rajesh Kumar is currently in police custody and being interrogated. Evidence collection teams combed the couple's residence for forensic clues before registering a murder case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, given the victim's background.
Legal experts noted that the case highlights the persistent problem of domestic violence in rural Uttar Pradesh, where women often face isolation and limited access to legal protection when trapped in abusive marriages. Women's rights advocates in the state have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement of protective orders and faster trial mechanisms for gender-based crimes.
