An Odisha court has sentenced a couple to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of their 15-year-old daughter after discovering she was involved in a relationship with an older man. The chilling case, which dates back to February 2016, underscores the disturbing reality of honour killings in society.
The parents were found guilty not only of their daughter’s murder but also of attempting to erase all traces of their crime. They burned her body and disposed of the ashes in plastic bags, which were then discarded in a river. The court acknowledged the crime as an honour killing but emphasized that it did not meet the criteria for a death sentence, noting that such incidents have become increasingly common.
Judge Bijaya Kumar Jena, delivering the verdict, remarked, “This case does not fall under the category of rarest of rare, and honour killings are unfortunately becoming more prevalent in society.” Both parents were sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs. 10,000 each. Failure to pay the fine would result in an additional six months of imprisonment.
The incident was first brought to light by a villager who heard the young girl pleading for her life the night before her death, promising to end the relationship her parents disapproved of. The next morning, the same villager claimed to have witnessed the girl’s parents cremating her body in a dried-up pond and disposing of the remains in a river.
During the investigation, the couple’s confession to the police proved crucial. They admitted to staging the scene as a suicide, then burning their daughter’s body and scattering the ashes. Despite later retracting their statements, the court found sufficient evidence, including witness testimonies and the couple’s confession, to convict them.
In a twist, the other villagers who were accused of aiding the parents in hiding the evidence were acquitted. The man accused of sexually assaulting the girl, whom the parents had opposed, was also cleared of the charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).
The court’s verdict shines a light on the grim reality of honour killings, reflecting how deep-rooted societal pressures can lead to such tragic outcomes.
