Kalaburagi police have arrested a man for murdering his 18-year-old daughter and attempting to pass it off as a suicide because she was in a relationship with someone from another community.
According to Police Commissioner Sharanappa S D, the incident took place on Thursday in Melakunda village.
Shankar, the girl’s father, is accused of strangling her and forcing pesticide into her mouth to create the impression that she had died by suicide. Villagers, believing the version, went ahead with the last rites.
“The jurisdictional police received information that an 18-year-old girl died by suicide and her last rites were performed, but there were suspicions about the case,” Sharanappa told PTI.
Local police visited the village and confirmed the circumstances. Shankar was taken into custody soon after.
Police said Shankar opposed his daughter’s relationship as he feared it would harm the marriage prospects of his other daughters. “The man had opposed her relationship, as he has five daughters. He feared that an inter-caste marriage would affect the marriage prospects of his other three daughters,” Sharanappa added.
Investigators said Shankar had previously tried to convince his daughter, through relatives, to focus on her education, but she “remained adamant.”
“Shankar strangled her and poured pesticide into her mouth to make it appear as a suicide. Villagers believed it and participated in the last rites,” the commissioner said.
A forensic team has collected evidence from the scene, and police have registered cases of murder and tampering with evidence.
Shankar has been booked for murder and tampering with evidence. He remains in police custody as investigations continue.
Two more relatives are suspected of being involved in the murder.