Family kills Odisha girl over relationship

A man and his two minor sons murdered his daughter in Odisha’s Ganjam district as she defiantly continued her relationship with a youth despite opposition from family.

A man and his two minor sons murdered his daughter in Odisha’s Ganjam district as she defiantly continued her relationship with a youth despite opposition from family.

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Surya Dalai (43) strangulated his daughter Minati Dalai (18) with the help of his sons on Friday night and later hanged her body from a tree to make it seem like a suicide in Pankalabadi village.

Police made a spot verification the next day and found it to be a murder. “Dalai and his two sons have been arrested. They have confessed to killing her,” Ganjam SP Ashish Singh said.

Minati was in love with the youth from a neighbouring district. Dalai was against the relationship and repeatedly told her to sever all ties
with him.

Earlier, Dalai lodged a complaint against the youth’s family, alleging harassment. On June 16, the police had called Dalai, the father of the youth and elders of both villages. They had decided that the relationship should culminate in marriage.