Daijiworld Media Network – Mandya (SP)

Mandya, Apr 25: Shilpa (20), daughter of Murugesh and Mangalamma couple from Bhairaveshwara Nagar in Mysore, was allegedly killed by the relatives of her husband on Thursday April 24 morning. Shilpa had married three months ago, after a love affair.

The alledged honour killing was executed near Kannahalli in Malavalli taluk in the district.

Shilpa belongs to the Nayaka community, while her husband, Abhijeet, belongs to scheduled caste category. Abhijeet, son of Billaiah and Nagamma from Metagahalli, and Shilpa were in love with each other since a year. In spite of opposition from their respective parents, they had entered wedded life on January 1 this year. Parents of Abhijeet, who steadfastly opposed the alliance, refused to admit Shilpa into their home. As such, Abhijeet had lived with his wife in the house of his paternal uncle, Puttaswamy, before renting a house recently at Belawadi in Mysore.

Puttaswamy and his wife, Prameela, had visited Abhijeet on Wednesday. They invited the couple to take part in the annual festival at Mudukutore in T Narasipura taluk. Abhijeet, who said he was otherwise busy, expressed his inability to accompany them. He however, arranged for a car from the garage where he works, for their journey for the festival along with Shilpa. After paying obeisance at Mudukutore temple, Shilpa and others began their return journey late night on Wednesday. On the way, the car was stopped near Nenoor. Shilpa had left the vehicle to answer nature’s call for a short while there.

Prameela followed Shilpa and allegedly tried to asphyxiate her by tightening the veil around her neck. Shilpa escaped from her grip and ran away, but the couple chased her down, tied her hands and legs with the help of veils, poured petrol on her and ignited fire. The couple then fled in the same car. The locals who heard the wails of Shilpa rushed to the spot, and admitted her into the taluk hospital in Malavalli. She was then shifted to the district hospital here. Shilpa, who had suffered 60 percent burns, breathed her last at the district hospital at around 1 pm on Thursday.

Even after Shilpa died, none of her relatives, except her mother, Mangalamma, came to the hospital. Her body was lying orphaned, after some media persons took Shilpa’s mother away. Shilpa’s father, Murugesh, works as a mason in Tamil Nadu and visits Mysore once in two weeks, it is learnt. Abhijeet was also not seen in the hospital. Mangalamma, who suspects role of Abhijeet, his uncle and aunt in the murder of her daughter, has filed a police complaint. Abhijeet’s mother, Nagamma, has since been arrested. Various organizations have expressed deep anguish at this incident.