HYDERABAD: In a suspected case of ‘honour killing’, a 30-year-old Dalit man was allegedly murdered by his wife’s family in Suryapet district. The body of V Krishna was found in a canal Monday.
Suryapet Police said Krishna, an unemployed man from the Scheduled Caste community, had been struck with boulders and his body abandoned near the canal in Pillalamarri village late Sunday. Locals found the body the next morning.
Based on a complaint by Krishna’s father David, police registered a murder case against suspects Naveen and Mahesh — both friends of the deceased and currently on the run — under relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Naveen is the brother of Krishna’s wife Bhargavi while Mahesh is her cousin, police said.
Tension gripped the village following the murder, and four police teams were formed to track down the accused.
Krishna had married Bhargavi, a member of the OBC community, six months ago against her family’s wishes. Since then, Bhargavi’s family had allegedly threatened Krishna. Both families live in Pillalamarri, police said. Before the wedding, Bhargavi’s family had tried arranging a marriage for her but she refused and declared her love for Krishna. With vehement opposition from her family, the couple eventually eloped and wed. For the past six months, Bhargavi had been living at her marital home.
On Sunday evening, Mahesh invited Krishna to meet. Krishna left home to see him but didn’t return. “I waited for him all night but he was unreachable,” Bhargavi said, adding that the next morning, she was informed about her husband’s murder following which she rushed to the spot.
Bhargavi suspected her two brothers’ involvement in the crime as they had previously told a mutual acquaintance that Krishna would face dire consequences for marrying their sister. “I want justice. My brothers’ wives should face the same fate that I am forced to endure. I married Krishna against my family’s wishes because I knew I would be happy with him,” she said, weeping inconsolably.
