April 22, 2008

An 22 year old girl was beaten and burnt alive by her father and uncle for having fallen in love with someone her family did not approve of.

Rekha was in love with Narasanagowda Patil (22). The families were opposed to the match. Both belonged to the Reddy community. Rekha's parents had sent her to a relative's house, in another village, to keep her away from Patil. On April 22, she returned to her village to meet Patil but told her family she had come to participate in the Ugra Narasimhaswamy Jatra Mahotsava, a village festival.

According to the FIR, Patil's mother, Gangamma, saw them together in his house and informed Rekha's father, Narasa Reddy. Narasa Reddy and his elder brother, Bhooma Reddy, rushed to the place, dragged Rekha out and beat her black and blue. Villagers said Rekha's father and uncle set her on fire at their farmhouse.

Cases under the IPC's Section 302 (murder) and Section 201 (destroying evidence) have been registered. Narasa Reddy and his brother are under arrest

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