MUZAFFARNAGAR: In a chilling reminder of the Imrana case in which a 28-year-old woman was raped by her father-in-law in 2005 with the village panchayat later deciding that her husband had become her son, a similar assault was reported from Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district.

On July 5, the 23-year-old woman, who was then seven months pregnant, was alone at home, according to police offcials.Her father-in-law, 50, allegedly barged in, raped her and threatened to kill her if case she reported the matter.

In her police complaint filed on September 7, the woman stated: "When I informed my husband about the assault he told me that since his father had established a relationship with me, we cannot stay together as I have now become his father's wife".

She alleged her husband thrashed her and threw her out of the house.

"I remained silent as I wanted to preserve my honour.

Despite repeated pleas, my husband refused to take me back for no fault of mine.

That's why I decided to take legal action," she said.Speaking on the matter, station house officer (SHO) Raghvandra Yadav said, "A case under IPC sections 376 (rape) and 606 (punishment for criminal intimidation) was registered against the father-in-law while the husband was booked under section 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt)." (The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court's directives on cases related to sexual assault)