The spate of honour killings in and around the Capital showed no sign of abating as yet another case emerged on Thursday — a young man was strangled and left hanging from a tree by his girlfriend’s father and three other of her relatives.
Police found the body of Sonu Kumar Jatav (20) in a mango orchard in Ghaziabad’s Badauda village, 45 km east of the Capital. Investigations revealed that he had been involved with Reena (19), whom he wanted to marry, but whose parents disapproved of the relationship.
Both of them were Dalits.
“The girl’s family had already threatened the man. His worried family members had in fact sent him away from home for his own safety,” said Capt. M.M. Baig, Superintendent of Police.
On Wednesday, however, police said, Reena’s father forced her to call Sonu and invite him over to discuss their marriage. “He turned up the same evening,” Baig said.
“They were after my son’s life and planned the murder,” said Kishan Kumar, Sonu’s father. The suspected killers are all absconding.