2 sisters beaten to death by father, 2 minor brothers

Lucknow: In a suspected case of honour killing, a man allegedly beat his two daughters to death with the help of his minor sons in Kushinagar district, police said on Tuesday. The accused is absconding, while the two juvenile boys have been detained for questioning.The incident occurred in Pipraghat village under Sevarhi police station limits of Kushinagar. The victims, aged 18 and 20, were daughters of a resident of Devanarayan Tola in the village.Police said the crime came to light on Monday night after a village watchman alerted the police.A police team rushed to the house and found the bodies of both sisters lying in a blood-soaked condition inside a room.According to preliminary investigation, the assault took place around 9 pm on Monday when the accused allegedly confined his daughters in a room and, along with his two sons, aged 14 and 12, attacked them with sticks and wooden rods.Officials said the victims sustained severe injuries and died on the spot. After the incident, the father fled the village, while the two minor boys remained at the house. They were later taken into custody by police.Police said the killings appear to be linked to the sisters’ relationships with two local youths. According to police and local inputs, both women were involved in separate relationships and had allegedly eloped with their partners last year.They returned home around six months ago following intervention by family members and villagers. A panchayat was also held, after which the sisters resumed living with their family.However, tensions reportedly persisted within the household. Police said the father strongly opposed the relationships and frequent disputes were reported between him and his daughters.Superintendent of police, Kushinagar, Keshav Kumar, said the accused allegedly believed that his daughters’ actions had tarnished the family’s reputation.“Preliminary findings suggest that resentment had been building for months before culminating in the fatal assault,” said the officer.A murder case has been registered against the girls’ father and his two sons based on a complaint filed by the village watchman. While the juveniles are being questioned, police teams have been formed to trace and arrest the absconding father.Kumar said the case prima facie appeared to be an honour killing.“The investigation so far indicates the involvement of the father and two minor brothers. Both sisters were in contact with different youths. The father objected to these relationships, but they continued despite his opposition,” he said.