Teenage girl beheaded by family in northern India in "honour killing" case

Police in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, have arrested three members of a family in connection with the killing and beheading of a 19-year-old teenage girl in what authorities are describing as a possible “honour killing.” The suspects include the victim’s father, stepmother, and step-grandfather.

Authorities say the incident came to light on August 10, when residents of Bahradoi village discovered a headless body in a canal. The victim’s head was recovered shortly thereafter, Caliber.Az reports via Indian media.

Police formed multiple teams to identify the woman. A breakthrough occurred when a woman recognised the stitching on a piece of the victim’s clothing, linking it to a missing girl from Aligarh’s Akrabad area. The victim has been identified as Tamanna, daughter of Hasrat Ali.

Police reports indicate that Tamanna, 19, had left her home in July with a man from her village but returned two days later. Family members reportedly confronted her, accusing her of bringing “disgrace” to the household. 

On August 8, she left home again but was intercepted by her father and stepmother. Police allege that she was subsequently taken to the home of her step-grandfather, where she was allegedly harmed and later killed.

Police say Ali then severed her head and inflicted multiple injuries on the body to hinder identification, while the others held her down. Her clothes were also deliberately disturbed to mislead investigators.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the crime, and the three suspects were taken into custody on August 13.

By Sabina Mammadli