Kalaburagi (Karnataka): In a suspected case of honour killing, a man allegedly murdered his 18-year-old daughter and burnt her body over an inter-caste relationship in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district, police said here.
The incident occurred at Melakunda village in Kalaburagi taluk under Farhatabad police station limits. The accused, identified as Shankar Kolkur, has been arrested, while two others — Sharanu and Dattappa — who reportedly assisted him in the crime, are absconding.
According to police, the victim, Kavitha, a Class 12 student belonging to the Lingayat community, was in a relationship with Malappa Poojari from the Kuruba community. Her family had opposed the affair and had stopped her from attending college about four months ago after discovering the relationship.
Despite threats, Kavitha had insisted she would only marry Malappa and had warned her parents she would elope if they did not agree.
Police said Shankar, with the help of relatives, strangled Kavitha and attempted to pass it off as a suicide by poisoning. Later, they shifted the body to a relative’s farm and set it ablaze.
On learning about the incident, police rushed to the spot and arrested the father. A suo motu case has been registered, and further investigation is underway.
Kalaburagi Police Commissioner DS Sharanappa and senior officers visited the scene, and additional forces have been deployed to prevent tension in the village.
Kavitha’s mother, Mallmma, told police that her husband had given up alcohol after 20 years of addiction but had relapsed into drinking after discovering his daughter’s inter-caste affair.