In yet another dastardly deed, a  girl was  stabbed to death by her father and uncle on Friday in a suspected case of “honour killing” in Gwalior in (Madhya Pradesh).

Police said the victim,  ‘Seema’, was killed at a shelter for women in the Hazira area of the city, more than 400km from capital Bhopal. The two accused, Kalyan Singh and Lakhan Singh, escaped.

Police said that one of the attackers was injured when a cow, disturbed by the commotion, charged at them. Another person who tried to save Seema was also said to be injured. No arrests so far!

CCTV camera footage showed the cow charging at the men, apparently trying to protect its calf nearby.

The girl had ‘angered’ her parents by eloping with a 22-year-old guy identified as Sonu in January, police said.  Sonu was arrested and sent to jail on the complaint of the father who claimed that she was a ‘minor’. Seema, however, refused to return to her village Pahadigaon in Morena district and was sent to a government-run shelter following a court’s order.

She was later shifted to a shelter run by an NGO where she was attacked.

On Friday, Seema’s father and uncle Lakhan Singh came to meet her and persuade her to return. When she refused again, Kalyan and Lakhan stabbed her with knives. Seema sustained multiple wounds and collapsed on the spot. Gwalior’s superintendent of police HN Mishra said a murder case has been registered against the two.

Government data for 2014 shows 18 people were victims of such honour killings, most of them in response to romantic liaisons or for marrying against set societal norms. The killings are often carried out by close male relatives.

Activists say the crime is under-reported and many such killings are covered up. Convictions for such crimes are  rare.

Regional coordinator of women and child development department, Suresh Tomar, said an inquiry committed has been set up and action would be taken against the NGO for negligence.

  crime, Madhya Pradesh, naked truth, women