In the region of Kodagu, a young lady of 16 years, who had recently succeeded in her tenth-grade examination, purportedly suffered decapitation at the hands of her betrothed from Karnataka’s Kodugu subsequent to authorities calling off their matrimonial arrangement due to her being a minor.
The occurrence unfolded at Surlabbi village in Somwarpet on Thursday. The alleged perpetrator, identified as Prakash (32), purportedly carried out the act of ending the young girl’s life, severing her head from her body, and absconded with the severed head. Law enforcement in Kodagu has confirmed the initiation of legal proceedings in connection with this event, with an active pursuit underway to apprehend the accused.
As per the accounts provided by the authorities, the young girl had been betrothed just the day prior. However, a joint team comprising representatives from the local police station and the Child Welfare department intervened at her residence, mandating the termination of the matrimonial alliance on the grounds of the girl’s status as a minor. In response, both families acquiesced to postpone the nuptial ceremony until the girl reached the age of legal majority.
In a fit of rage over this development, the prospective groom made an unwelcome visit to the girl’s domicile on the preceding evening and purportedly launched a violent assault on her family members. Subsequently, he forcibly removed the girl from her household and transported her to an isolated locale where he is alleged to have carried out the gruesome act of decapitation. Following the commission of the crime, the accused absconded from the scene, leaving behind the lifeless body sans its head.
The deceased young lady had recently undergone the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination, the results of which were announced the day before. Her kinfolk attested to her attainment of commendable scores in the examination.
An official from the Kodagu police station confirmed that investigative efforts are ongoing, with legal proceedings initiated against the accused under pertinent sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 307 pertaining to attempted murder, Section 302 dealing with murder, in addition to provisions outlined in the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act.
Law enforcement officials further revealed that the deceased victim was the youngest amongst her siblings, comprising three sisters and two brothers.