Hours after a Dalit man was found dead on the banks of a canal on the River Musi in Telangana’s Suryapet district, the police late Monday booked four people, including his father- and brothers-in-law, based on a complaint by his father.
Krishna, 32, who belonged to the Scheduled Caste (SC) Mala community, was found dead on the banks of a canal on the River Musi near Pillalamarri Monday morning.
The Suryapet police booked his wife Kotla Bhargavi’s father Kotla Saidulu, her brothers Kotla Naveen and Kotla Vamshee, and their friend Bairu Mahesh, based on a complaint from his father David alleging “honour killing” of his son by his daughter-in-law’s family. The four men were booked under sections 103(1),61(2),r/w 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
In his complaint, David, a church pastor, said the accused, who belong to the Backward Classes (BC)’s Goud community, conspired and murdered his son. He cited Krishna’s inter-caste marriage with Bhargavi six months ago as the reason for the accused holding a grudge against his son.
“Bhargavi and David are alleging that Saidulu, Naveen, and Vamshi are behind Krishna’s murder. There are two attempted murder cases against Krishna in Suryapet town police station and four similar cases against Naveen too. We are investigating all angles. We will arrest the culprits soon. The four suspects are absconding,” N Balu Naik, Sub-inspector, Suryapet Rural police station, told indianexpress.com
Naik said Krishna and Naveen were friends, and Krishna had been in love with Naveen’s sister, Bhargavi. Despite opposition from Naveen’s family, the couple went ahead with the marriage even as Bhargavi’s family was looking for a groom for her. Bhargavi and Krishna had been living at Krishna’s home in Mammillagadda for the last six months after their marriage, said Naik.
On Sunday evening, their mutual friend Bairu Mahesh called Krishna and he left home without sharing any details with his wife.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
