Honour killing: girl's father detained

The Telangana Police has detained father of Amrutha Varshini, whose husband Pranay Kumar, a Scheduled Caste man, was hacked to death in Miryalaguda on Friday in broad daylight.

Pranay was coming out from a local hospital with his five-month pregnant wife and mother after a prenatal checkup.

Amrutha’s uncle Shravan, who has physically attacked Amrutha several times for marrying a lower caste boy, is also in police custody.

According to the Nalgonda Police, Amrutha’s father Maruthi Rao, who is a realtor, had given an advance of Rs 5 lakh to professional killers to murder Pranay. For Rao his caste and prestige are more important than anything else, the official said.

He reportedly told police that he clearly cautioned the killers not to harm his daughter and is ready to face any punishment.

Meanwhile, Amrutha said that she will never return to her parents home after what they have done to her husband. “My in-laws who have sheltered us in troubled times might be angry that they lost their son because of me, but it will be a home for me and my child. I will give birth to this child and see Pranay in the child,” Amrutha told media persons here on Saturday.

Recalling the events, she said that her father called her when she was in the hospital. “I used to wonder how my father knows my every move. So I didn’t answer. After Pranay was hacked I ran into the hospital and called my father to tell him that Pranay has been attacked. But he abruptly cut the phone saying that he is not able to hear. At that very moment I understood that he was involved in the attack,” she said.

When asked what she will do if her father comes in front of her, she said, “I will kill him.”

Several organisations observed a bandh in Miryalaguda town on Saturday over the “honour killing”. Shops and business establishments remained closed. The Scheduled Caste and anti-caste outfits took out rallies, demanding justice for Pranay’s family.