The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday sent a notice to the Telangana government and the State's police chief in connection with the murder of a Dalit youth allegedly by his Muslim wife's relatives in Hyderabad, in a suspected case of honour killing.
Her family was apparently opposed to her interfaith relationship and marriage. Both the accused have been arrested and the case, reportedly, would be tried in a fast-track court.
The NHRC has taken suo moto cognisance of media reports that a 25-year-old man was brutally killed in broad public view at Saroornagar in Hyderabad by his wife's brother and another person in a case of suspected honour killing on May 4, the rights panel said in a statement.
The Commission has observed on the basis of the media reports that such heinous crime in broad public view without any fear of law "indicates towards lawlessness and amounts to gross violation of human rights".
Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Telangana chief secretary and DGP, seeking a detailed report within four weeks, the statement said.
"The chief secretary has been asked to submit report whether the state government has any policy to prevent such incidents of honour killing in cases of inter caste/inter religion marriage," it added.
The DGP has been asked to inform the present status of the investigation in the case, steps taken to safeguard the wife of the victim and his family members along with any relief granted by the state government to them, the rights panel said.
The Commission would also like to know whether there were any lapses on the part of the police authorities in this case if so, what action has been taken against the guilty, it said.
According to the media report, carried on May 6, it is mentioned that the incident occurred when the victim boy, belonging to a Scheduled Caste, was riding his motorbike accompanied by his Muslim wife when the attackers stopped them on the road and attacked the man with an iron rod before stabbing him with a knife, killing him on the spot, the statement said.
"The police has reportedly stated that the brother of the girl was opposed to her interfaith marriage and warned against it. The couple, as mentioned in the news report, were classmates in the school and college and were in love for more than five years even as the family of the girl was against the relationship.
"They had reportedly got married in the month of January this year, against the wishes of the family of the girl. The wife of the victim has reportedly told the media that she knew her husband for the last 11 years and claimed that five people had attacked him," it added.
This case of suspected honour killing has sent shock waves after the gory murder that was caught on camera went viral.
