Prayagraj: Pratapgarh police on Monday announced a cash reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to the arrest of a co-accused wanted in connection with the Manikpur rape and murder case.Police said the prime accused, a 16-year-old boy, was taken into custody on Monday and produced before a court in connection with the alleged gang rape and murder of a 19-year-old girl, whose body was found in a village under the limits of Manikpur police station on Sunday.The prime accused and the absconding co-accused have been booked under sections 103(1) and 70(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Officials said two police teams have been deployed to track the co-accused, who allegedly fled the village after the incident.According to police, the prime accused was acquainted with the victim and had been in regular contact with her over the phone. Preliminary investigation suggests that the girl had come to meet him at a mango orchard, where the co-accused was also present.Police further alleged that the co-accused filmed the girl in a compromising situation and threatened to circulate the clip on social media. He is also accused of raping her. When the girl allegedly threatened to expose the accused, the duo allegedly suffocated her to death and later hung the body before fleeing the scene.
