 |
| Even though they both belonged to the same caste, her family did not approve of him since his family was poorer than theirs. (Photo by= BBC News) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] Police in the western Indian state of Maharashtra has arrested a teenager suspected of beheading his pregnant older sister. The woman, 19, had married a man without her family's consent, local police officials said.
She’s making tea for her brother and mother when she’s attacked with a sickle. The teenager and his mother then surrendered to the police. Police suspect they also took a selfie with the woman's head. The brother was sent to a remand home for juveniles after his lawyer said he’s less than 18 years old. However, a police official said they would contest this claim in court as they had found a certificate that showed him to be an adult. Their mother was sent to police custody. The victim had eloped in June and married her lover after her family objected to their relationship.
The incident took place in Aurangabad district, BBC Marathi reported. Police said the mother knew that her daughter was pregnant. Campaigners say hundreds of people are killed each year in India for falling in love or marrying against their families wishes. These murders are often called "honour killings", referring to the age-old notions of tradition and family honour which are still deeply entrenched in many parts of Indian society.
