There has been shock and outrage over a so-called 'honour killing' in the Indian village of Pandetara, Uttar Pradesh, in which a father beheaded his daughter and then carried her head through the streets.
The man was videoed walking through the street and shows him being stopped by police. In the video, the police search the man and ask him who the head belongs to. It is believed that he was on his way to the police station to hand himself in when he was stopped by officers.
Indian News Channel NDTV later reported that the man told police that it belonged to his 17-year-old daughter and that he had carried out the killing due to the fact that he disapproved of her boyfriend.
He is reported to have stated:
"I did it. There was no one else. I closed the latch and did it. The body is in the room."
He is also reported to have said that he would have killed her boyfriend as well if he had just gotten the chance.
STUPIDITY
— MCGW (@MombasaCGW) March 4, 2021
INDIA-A father calmly carries his daughter’s severed head along streets after beheading her in a so-called “honour killing”. Sarvesh Kumar admitted on video to decapitating the 17-year-old with a sharp tool, as he was very angry about her dating a man he didn't approve. pic.twitter.com/75iepAYFqc
An officer was reportedly suspended after he was photographed holding the girl's head 'inappropriately'.
So-called 'honour killings' are sadly a common feature in the Asian subcontinent and in other parts of the world. These killings usually involve a member of a girl or woman's family murdering her because they have deemed her to have acted in a way that dishonours them or their religion.
This frequently results from a girl or woman having a relationship, or even suspected of having a relationship, with someone the family does not approve of, or acting 'immodestly' in public.
Human-rights group Amnesty International states:
"An honour killing is the murder of a person accused of 'bringing shame' on their family or community. Although men can fall victim, most honour killings involve women and girls. Victims are murdered for a variety of reasons, including talking to an unrelated male, rejecting a marriage partner chosen by family members, committing or being accused of adultery, becoming pregnant out of wedlock, not dressing conservatively enough and, sadly, being a victim of rape."
The United Nations estimates that over 5,000 women and girls are murdered each and every year as part of a system of honour killings.
[h/t: Daily Mail]
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