Girl beheaded by cousin

By Our Correspondent

KOLAR, DEC. 23. It was a one-sided love affair which finally climaxed in the gruesome murder of a teenage girl, Amaravathy (18), by her cousin, Manjunath (27) on Friday morning at Srinivasapur in Kolar District.

According to sources, Amaravathy and Manjunath were neighbours in Kurabur of Chintamani taluk. Amaravathy was studying in Srinivasapur and Manjunath was a pharmacist in the Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College at Kolar. Their fathers were brothers. When the respective parents learnt of Manjunath's desire to have a love affair with Amaravathy, they opposed it.

Manjunath ignored the warning given by his father. When Amaravathy did not agree to have an affair with him, Manjunath became frustrated and reportedly wrote many letters to her. The girl's father reportedly warned Manjunath against writing letters to his daughter. Manjunath then tried to commit suicide by consuming poison and was treated at the Devaraj Urs Medical College Hospital.

However, he never gave up and did his best to win over Amaravathy. When his attempts failed, he is said to have threatened to kidnap her or even murder her. A horrified Amaravathy reportedly brought this to her parents' notice who consoled her and said that they would speak to Manjunath.

Manjunath was reported to have come to Srinivasapur on Thursday evening and to have slept in the premises of the Government College. In the morning he waited for Amaravathy to finish her private tuition. When she came out, Manjunath asked her to elope with him. When she refused to do so, Manjunath slit her throat and cut off her head with a chopper.

Passersby, who were taken by surprise, apprehended Manjunath and handed him over to police who arrived at the spot minutes after the murder. The public gathered in front of the police station Manjunath was taken to and demanded that he be handed over to them to "teach him a lesson." Mr. Pranab Mohanthy, Superintendent of Police, Kolar, dissuaded them from taking the law into their hands. Additional police forces were deployed to prevent any untoward incident.

A post-mortem of the girl's body was conducted in the presence of the taluk tahasildar. Manjunath was produced before a magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody.

Though the situation was under control, it was tense. Many business establishments downed their shutters early in the day following the incident.

Amaravathy's funeral took place in Kurubur later in the day amid tight security.

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Section  : Southern States
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