Honour Killing: Gujarat NEET qualifier eligible for Govt medical seat allegedly strangled by father, uncle

Ahmedabad: In a shocking case of honour killing, an 18-year-old medical aspirant, who had recently secured the chance to get admission to a government medical college after scoring well in the NEET exam, was allegedly murdered by her father and uncle.

The accused duo reportedly took the step after learning that she might attempt to elope with her live-in partner.

According to media reports, the girl was offered a glass of milk by her father and uncle, allegedly mixed with sleeping pills. Once she fell unconscious, the duo strangled her with her dupatta and told villagers that she had died of a heart attack. The very next morning, they performed her last rites.

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The aspirant had scored 478 marks in her NEET exam a month ago and had become eligible for admission to a government medical college. While she aspired to pursue medicine and continue her studies, her family reportedly opposed her decision to study and live independently, adds Times of India.

The incident occurred on June 24. On that day, fearing that her family would force her into marriage or even kill her if she refused, the girl who had been in a live-in relationship with her partner sent him a desperate message.

In her final text, she pleaded, “Come and take me away, otherwise my family will get me married against my will. If I refuse, they will kill me. Save me.” Moments later, she died.

As he was in jail at the time, he was unable to respond or help. He later filed a habeas corpus petition in court, but by the time the matter was taken up, the girl had already died.

On June 25, two days before the scheduled hearing, he learned that she had died on the night of June 24 and that her last rites had been performed the next morning. Following this, he lodged a complaint against her father and uncle.

When police initially questioned villagers, they were told she had died of a heart attack. However, suspecting foul play, the police registered a case and arrested her uncle, while her father remains absconding.

According to a TOI report, the complainant stated that the girl’s family had strongly opposed their relationship. Her uncle had even visited some colleges and, after observing boys and girls studying together, warned her father not to send her there, fearing she might fall in love and marry. They took away her phone, cut her off from social media, and made her do only household chores.

The complainant further revealed that the couple had signed a “live-in agreement” just two weeks before she was killed. He said, "She wanted to study medicine. We were not harming anyone. We just wanted to live peacefully."

"Based on the complaint submitted by her live-in partner, the local police on August 6 booked the girl’s father and uncle for the murder, as they were against the relationship, a senior police official told India Today TV.

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