According to police sources, the body of the youth identified as Rehan Ahmed, a resident of Khandpipra village in the district, was recovered from near a graveyard, a few hundred metres away from the village, on Saturday.
Rehan was having an affair with a girl of the same village for the past two years and the two wanted to marry but their affair was not approved by the girl’s family since he hails from a lower caste.
“The lovers belonged to different castes and the family of the girl was opposed to their marriage…the boy was also warned by the girl’s family members on many occasions,” officials said.
With a plan to eliminate Rehan, the girl’s family invited the boy home in the pretext of discussing the marriage and hacked him to death. They also gouged out one of his eyes.
“Rehan’s body bore several injury marks. His legs and hands were broken and one of the eyes was missing,” police sources said.
The body of Rehan was dumped near the graveyard a little away from the village at night. Rehan’s family members grew suspicious when he did not return home and they suspected foul play and informed the police.
Four persons have been named in the murder. The girl’s mother and sister have been taken into custody and hunt was on to nab the other accused. “It appears to be a case of honour killing,” the officials said.
Killings for honour of the family is a common feature in Uttar Pradesh, especially in the Jat-dominated western region.