HYDERABAD: A man here killed his 13-year-old daughter for getting too close to boys in their village and then he and his wife set her on fire to make it look like a suicide.
The death took place four days ago and a case of suspicious death was registered initially. But the horrific facts of the crime came to light when police began their investigation.
The incident took place in Teededu village in Chintapally mandal of Nalgonda district in Telangana. On September 15, the man, Narasimha, spotted his daughter Radhika, a class VII student, playing with a small child while some boys from the neighbourhood looked on.
Narasimha grew suspicious that Radhika had begun enjoying the company of boys. He beat her up at home and in the fit of rage strangled her. Fearing arrest, Narasimha and his wife Lingamma set fire to Radhika's body and told the neighbours that she had committed suicide. A case of suspicious death registered the same day.
Police found that there were clues suggesting that Radhika had ended her own life. Also, the body was half burnt and the post-mortem report indicated strangulation marks on the girl's throat.
Sensing something fishy, police questioned the couple separately and the wife and husband gave conflicting answers. Under pressure, Narasimha admitted to his crime. Narasimha told police he didn’t intend to kill his only daughter but to deter her from mingling with boys.
Police have altered the case to one of murder and the local court turned over the couple to judicial custody.