Lucknow: A teenaged Muslim girl was allegedly murdered and secretly buried by her family members in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district after she eloped with a 19-year-old Dalit boy.
The victim’s father, Waris, uncle Matlubh, and cousin Sadik — all residents of Palda village — were taken into custody by Baraut police after villagers noticed injury marks on the girl’s neck during her burial and informed the boy’s family and local police.
According to primary investigation, the girl was in a relationship with Sagar Kashyap, a scheduled caste youth from the same village.
“The two had been in love for over 18 months but faced strong opposition from the girl’s family due to caste and religious differences. The minor girl’s grandfather is a known Samajwadi Party worker with political influence in the area,” a police official said.
On July 15, the couple fled to Himachal Pradesh’s Una, where Sagar worked at a brick kiln.
“The girl’s family tracked them down the next day, brought them back to the village in a car, allegedly beating them throughout the journey. They tied them near a tubewell in the village, where the couple was publicly thrashed. Sagar was handed over to his family with death threats, and the girl was taken back home,” the cop added.
According to police, the family allegedly strangled the girl on July 23, telling everyone that she had died of tuberculosis.
Her body was buried in a hurry. However, some villagers noticed bruises and strangulation marks on her neck and other parts during the burial, and alerted the authorities.
