Mandya honour killing: Police claim parents' confession

The suspicion of an honour killing in Mandya on Saturday has turned out to be true, with the girl’s parents confessing to the crime, said Superintendent of Police Sudhir Kumar Reddy.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the SP said the deceased girl Monica’s parents and uncles were involved in the crime, as she was in love with a youth belonging to another caste.

Reddy said the parents were taken into custody for cremating their daughter in a hurry without informing either the police or the villagers about her death.

Monica’s father H B Mohan and uncle D Suresh have been arrested. Search is on for the other uncle Ramakrishna, he said.

Evidence for the murder has been found and the probe is being conducted based on the evidence and the statements given by the arrested.

“Monica, daughter of Mohan of Thimmanahosuru, was in love with a youth belonging to another caste, which was opposed by her parents. They tried to convince her several times, but Monica was adamant about her relationship.

“Angered by her behaviour, the family members murdered her and hung her from a tree on April 2. They had informed the neighbours that she had committed suicide by hanging. Later, they took the help of a few neighbours and burnt the body, destroying the evidences,” he said.

Reddy said Monica had gone missing on March 28. On March 31, her parents lodged a missing complaint at the Mandya Rural police station.

“On April 1, Monica, accompanied by her parents, visited the police station and gave a statement that she was voluntarily going with her parents. On April 2, Monica again left the house, but was traced within half an hour. The family members tried to explain to her that she was bringing disrepute to the family. But, when Monica remained adamant, they told her that if she wanted to go with her lover, she had to give in writing that she herself would be responsible for whatever happened to her in future. Monica agreed and wrote the letter as demanded by her family members. But she was assaulted and strangled to death in a brutal manner,” the SP said.

Based on their statements, cases of murder and destruction of evidences have been registered. The call list of Monica’s phone will be verified, he said.

Monica’s lover Narendra Babu, who is staying away from Mandya, has been summoned by the police for recording of his statements. However, he has declined to mention the name of his caste.