A tragic incident of suspected honour killing has come to light in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad District of Telangana, where a pregnant woman was allegedly murdered by her father-in-law. The victim, a woman in her twenties from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community, was nine months pregnant when she was attacked with an axe in Dahegaon mandal.
Father-in-Law Arrested
Police revealed that the attack occurred on Saturday, and initial investigations suggest the accused was strongly opposed to his son’s marriage outside their caste. The woman had married into the family despite objections, which appears to have been the motive behind the brutal killing. Authorities have taken the accused into custody, and further investigations are underway.
According to police reports, the victim, identified as Rani, had married Shivarla Shekhar, a driver from the Backward Classes (BC) community, in October 2024. The inter-caste union had reportedly been met with hostility from Shekhar’s family. Though the couple initially lived together with Shekhar’s parents, tensions remained high.
In a disturbing turn of events, the father-in-law, Shivarla Sathaiah, allegedly attacked the woman when no other family members were at home. Using an axe, he struck her on the neck, resulting in her immediate death. Neighbors alerted the police, who arrived promptly and moved the body for a postmortem examination.
Woman Killed by Father-in-Law During Family Absence
Further details indicate that the woman had returned to her parental home during her pregnancy, while her husband stayed with his in-laws. Taking advantage of their absence, the accused allegedly carried out the violent act with both an axe and a knife, delivering multiple fatal blows.
Police continue to investigate the case, with the accused currently in custody or absconding as per varying reports. The motive of honour killing is yet to be conclusively established.
A police official said, “Based on preliminary inquiry, it appears the accused opposed the marriage due to caste differences. We are conducting a thorough probe to confirm the motive and bring justice.”
