In the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh (UP), a middle-aged Muslim couple was allegedly battered to death on Friday. The attack was purportedly carried out by the girl’s family because the son of the deceased couple eloped with a girl from another community in the same area.
Up until this point, the police have detained the girl’s brother, brother-in-law, and a close family friend. The police has launched a search for the parents of the girl. The five suspects have been detained on charges of rioting, assault, and murder. The police have offered the interfaith couple protection and have declined to reveal their whereabouts. A day before the man’s parents were attacked, the latter departed the village.
The adult son of the deceased spouse allegedly eloped with the girl in 2020, according to the police, which sparked a feud between the two families. The man was arrested for kidnapping, rape, and violations of the Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act while the girl was still a minor. But after the girl turned 18, the two eloped once more, and this time, she claimed in court that she had departed with her partner alone.
“According to the information we received, two persons died in a battle between the two factions. When the police arrived, they discovered that a couple, roughly 50 years old, had been killed. Our neighbours informed us that a different local family had attacked the couple with iron rods. The pair passed away instantly. We’re finishing up the post-mortem. In the village, a police force has been stationed,” Sitapur Superintendent of Police Chakresh Mishra told the media.
Giving details of the case, a police officer said, “The deceased couple’s son, age 28, was detained in 2020 for eloping with a young girl. The girl’s family filed a complaint, which prompted the filing of the case. He was subsequently detained and imprisoned for 13 months. The daughter turned 18 and became an adult a few months ago, and the two fled once more. They were discovered when a second complaint was filed, but this time the girl testified in court in support of her spouse. The individual was recently released on bond after being detained once more in connection with a different crime about two months ago.”
