A 19-year-old pregnant woman was allegedly murdered in a suspected honour killing in Karnataka’s Hubballi after marrying a man from another caste against her family’s wishes, police said on Monday. The victim, identified as Manya Patil, was six months pregnant at the time of the attack.
According to investigators, Manya had married earlier this year in May, defying strong opposition from her family. Fearing threats to their safety, she and her husband had been living in Haveri district, nearly 100 km away, before returning to her native village on December 8.
Police said tensions escalated on Sunday when members of Manya’s family allegedly attempted to assault her husband and father-in-law at an agricultural field. They managed to escape unharmed. Later that evening, between 6 and 6:30 pm, a group of assailants armed with iron pipes allegedly stormed the house where Manya was staying and attacked her.
When her in-laws, Renukamma and Subhash, tried to intervene, they were also seriously injured. Manya succumbed to her injuries and was declared dead at a hospital, while the others are undergoing treatment.
Police have detained three suspects, including her father Prakash Fakkirgoda, and formed a special investigation team. Officials said earlier efforts had been made to mediate between the families and prevent violence.
