‘Honour killing’: UP man arrested for killing daughter, boyfriend

MEERUT: A 19-year-old girl and her boyfriend were allegedly murdered by her family in Baghpat's Baraut area on Sunday in a suspected case of honour killing, police said. The girl's father has been arrested, and police are investigating the involvement of others.
The victims, Drishti Rani (19), a Class 12 student, and Balram (22), belonged to different communities. Their relationship had faced strong opposition from the girl's family, who had earlier forced her to quit her studies. Despite warnings and alleged thrashings from her father, the couple continued to meet in secret.
SP Baghpat Arpit Vijayvargiya said that the couple was strangled with a rope. On Sunday morning, Drishti's father, Pushpendra Kumar (50), had gone to Baraut with his elder daughter and son, while his wife was out locally. Drishti was alone at home when Balram visited. Upon returning unexpectedly, Pushpendra allegedly found them in a compromising position and, in a fit of rage, strangled them.
When Drishti's mother returned around 10 am, she found their bodies and raised an alarm, drawing neighbours to the scene. Police arrived soon after and sent the bodies for autopsy.
"The girl's father has been arrested, and we are investigating the case. It is likely that more than one person was involved. A case has been registered, and further action will be taken," SP Vijayvargiya said.
Meanwhile, Balram's family alleged that he was lured to the girl's house and killed. "Balram was called from home and murdered. Some people summoned him around 9 am, and an hour later, we learned he had been killed. It was a planned murder," said Balram's sister-in-law, Neha.