Yet Another Honour Killing: Karnataka Man Kills 20-Year-Old Daughter

In a recent incident, a Karnataka man killed his daughter in cold blood for being in a relationship with a boy from a different caste, according to a police statement on October 12.

The deceased girl has been identified as 20-year-old Kavana, a college student and resident of Bidaluru village near Devanahilli on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

Karnataka Man Kills Daughter Over Relationship

The police said that the accused, identified as Manjunath, was devastated after learning that his daughter was in a relationship with a boy from a different caste.

Manjunath had warned his daughter Kavana against the relationship, but she did not listen to her father. On the night of October 11, an argument ensued between the father and daughter over the relationship issue. As the argument escalated, in a moment of rage, Manjunath slit Kavana’s throat with a knife and stabbed her multiple times in the hands and legs.

After committing the crime, the accused, Manjunath, went and surrendered before the Vishwanathapura police station. Sources claim that Manjunath’s daughter approached the police about his opposition to her relationship as well.

Last week, she approached a government observation home for women and stated that she wished to marry the boy at any cost. Hundreds of villagers gathered at the spot of the crime, as it was close to the Bengaluru airport.

Two Recent Cases Of Honour Killing In Karnataka

The latest incident comes to light just as the country witnessed a case of honour killing a month earlier.

In August 2023, the Karnataka police arrested a man identified as Venkatesh Gowda alia Rajagopalappa from Totti village who killed his 19-year-old daughter, Ramya, because of her relationship with a boy from a different community. After Ramya's mysterious death on August 25, her body was buried without any rituals the same night. The villagers, who became suspicious of her sudden death, alerted the police.

Following a complaint, the police exhumed the girl’s body to determine the cause of the death as part of the investigation. The father confessed to murdering his daughter during police interrogation.

In June 2023, the Kolar district witnessed the loss of two young lives as a result of honour killing. 20-year-old Keerthi was in a relationship with a boy belonging to a Dalit community. When her father, Krishnamoorthy, came to know about the relationship, he conveyed his objection. However, Keerthi continued the relationship, after which he strangled her to death.

Upon learning of her demise, her lover, Gangadhar, 24, ended his life by throwing himself on the railway tracks. The accused father was arrested by the police.

Suggested Reading: Gurugram Woman Allegedly Killed By Family Over Inter-Caste Marriage