HYDERABAD: Expressing serious concern at the rise in so-called “honour” killings in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the recent past, a division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday called for steps to curb them effectively and told police to deal with such cases in a transparent manner.
The bench of Justice C V Nagarjuna Reddy and Justice J Uma Devi was dealing with a habeas corpus petition filed by Amboji Venkataiah. Venkataiah’s son Naresh, 24, had gone missing after he and his wife Swathi reached Bhongir on May 2.
Finding fault with the police investigation in this case, the bench advised police to act transparently and strictly in accordance with law while dealing with such incidents and not to give scope for doubts to arise among the people.
Swathi, who belonged to an upper caste community, secretly married her classmate Naresh, of a BC community, in Mumbai on March 25. On the insistence of Swathi’s father, the couple reached their native Bhongir of Yadadri Bhongir district on May 2. Swathi was forcibly taken away by her father and Naresh went missing. Venkataiah, of Pallerla village of the district and working as a coolie in Mumbai, lodged a complaint with Bhongir police but received no proper response. So, Venkataiah filed a petition before the vacation bench on May 15. The vacation court ordered the police to produce Swathi before it on May 18. However, Swathi allegedly committed suicide on May 16. On May 18, the court ordered the police to find Naresh and produce him before it on June 1 or to submit a case investigation report if they were unable to do so.
During the hearing, Andhra public prosecutor Posani Venkateswarlu, who was present in the court hall, said the culture of “honour” killings, prevalent in northern India was slowly penetrating southern parts of the country. To this the bench asked what steps were being taken by the governments concerned to nip this culture in the bud.
Court closes habeas corpus plea
High Court closed the habeas corpus petition, filed by Amboji Venkataiah, based on a police report stating Srinivas Reddy had confessed to killing Naresh, Venkataiah’s son. Reddy is father of Naresh’s wife Swathi. Swathi allegedly committed suicide.