In yet another case of “honour killing”, a 17-year-old girl was killed allegedly by her father on Sunday night at Tamatampalli in Srinivasapur taluk of Kolar district for being in love with a boy from a “lower” caste.
Byra Reddy, a resident of Tamatampalli under Gownipalli police limits, allegedly strangled his daughter Priya Reddy (17). He was angry with her for her love affair with 20-year-old Harish, belonging to Bovi (Scheduled Caste), and suspected that they were planning to elope on Sunday.
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This incident comes within two months of a case reported from Mandya district, where Monica (19) from Vokkaliga community was killed allegedly by her father for trying to elope with a Dalit boy.
The Sunday incident is the first case of killing in the name of “protecting caste honour” reported from Kolar district.
While Byra Reddy worked as a labourer, his wife Padmamma runs a push cart tea stall in Srinivasapur town. It is said that they were opposed to the daughter’s relationship with the boy of the “lower” caste, but she was firm on her stand. It is alleged that the father decided to end her life because she continued the relationship despite opposition.
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A student of a private pre-university college in Srinivasapur, Priya had been promoted to II PU. Harish was an illiterate and was working at the APMC yard in Srinivasapur.
Strangled with a rope
Byra Reddy took Priya on some pretext to a farm on Sunday night and strangled her with a rope. His minor son is said to have helped the father in killing Priya, Srinivasapur Circle Inspector of Police H.N. Chandrappa told The Hindu .
Some locals heard the screams of the girl and inquired with Byra Reddy on what happened. He is learnt to have told them that he had killed his daughter for being in love with a boy from another caste.
Confesses to crime
The police took Byra Reddy into custody and, during interrogation, he confessed to the crime, Mr. Chandrappa said. “It was established in the medical examination that the crime was committed using a rope,” he said. The body was handed over to the relatives of the girl after post-mortem.
A case under section 302 was registered against the father. Superintendent of Police Divya Gopinath and other senior officials visited the spot.
Protection sought
The All-India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has demanded that Harish be given full protection as his life is in danger.
AIDWA State unit president V. Geetha said the accused should not be given bail under any circumstance. .