Newly married woman found dead, police probe honour killing angle

Vijayawada: A young woman who married against her family's wishes was found dead under suspicious circumstances at her parent's house in Chittoor, prompting police to investigate the possibility of honour killing.
The deceased, Sheikh Yasmin Bhanu, in her early 20s and a native of Chittoor, recently married Sai Teja from Puthalapattu mandal in a love marriage. The couple tied the knot on Feb 9 in Nellore. Just four days later, on Feb 13, they approached Tirupati rural police seeking protection. As both individuals were legal adults, police counselled Yasmin's parents and permitted her to go with Sai Teja.
According to Chittoor Two Town police circle inspector Netti Kantayya, Yasmin returned to her parents' home on Saturday after receiving information that her father was critically ill. However, as per a statement given by her mother, her father, Shaukat Ali, became furious upon seeing her and accused her of dishonouring the family. He reportedly left the house following the heated confrontation. The following day, Yasmin was found hanging in one of the rooms.
While the family claimed Yasmin died by suicide, her husband Sai Teja alleged foul play. In a formal complaint lodged at Chittoor Two Town police station, he accused her family members of murdering her and staging the death as suicide. "Based on the complaint, we registered a suspicious death case and have initiated a thorough investigation. Preliminary reports indicate death by hanging, but we are delving deeper to determine the facts," the CI stated.
Police also identified discrepancies in the family's version of events — including the absence of typical indicators of a suicide scene and an unusual level of secrecy in transporting Yasmin's body to the hospital. Further raising doubts, Shaukat Ali and other relatives who took Yasmin from her marital home are now reportedly absconding. Her mother is currently in police custody.