22-yr-old stabbed to death by in-laws over objections to union

HYDERABAD: A 22-year-old man was stabbed to death by his in-laws, who were uncles of the victim’s wife and were against their inter-religious marriage, in Wadi-e-Omar of Shaheennagar late Wednesday.

The police, identifying the victim as Degavat Pavan Singh, said that the accused, Mohammed Ghouse and Mohammed Saddam, were waiting for him outside his house. When Pavan came outside to relieve himself at 11.40 pm, the duo stabbed him, chased him into his bedroom, and stabbed his wife and their two kids.

The police later arrested the duo and seized the weapons.

Sanjay Singh, Pavan’s cousin, said: “Pavan shouted for help. I heard his wife and kids screaming for help and ran into his house. As I was entering the door, two persons holding blood-stained knives pushed me to the ground and escaped on a bike.”

Neighbours gathered at Pavan’s house and rushed him to Osmania General Hospital, where he was declared dead. The police said the victim suffered stab wounds on his chest, stomach and lower back, and died due to heavy bleeding.

Degavat Phool Singh, Pavan’s father, said: “He had married a girl from our native place of Veldanda village in Nagarkurnool. Even before his marriage, he was living with us in Wadi-e-Omar.”

The police said that besides their objection to the couple’s marriage, the accused also had financial disputes with him and also had a heated argument before the incident.

Right-wing organisations were quick to jump in to give their two pennies’ worth about the crime. They also demanded the execution of the accused.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activist Pagudakula Balaswamy claimed that murders of Hindus were increasing by the day as they were proving an obstacle to ‘jihadists’, who murdered Pavan under other pretexts.

The police dismissed the allegations and warned activists against giving communal colour to the crime. They said that certain groups were trying to create disturbances for their personal and political gain.