In a shocking incident in Aurangabad, Bihar, a 14-year-old girl was brutally murdered by her own family after she expressed her desire to marry a boy from another caste. The girl, who was adamant about marrying her chosen partner, was killed by her grandfather and uncles, who sought to protect the family’s honour.
The tragedy unfolded in Putharva village under the Nabinagar police station area. The minor girl, belonging to a Scheduled Caste, had fallen in love with Vivek Chauhan, a boy from another caste. Despite her family’s strong opposition, the girl insisted that she would only marry him. She even warned her family that they were planning to elope if they were not allowed to marry.
The family’s disapproval reached a tipping point when the girl’s grandparents and two uncles decided to take drastic action. On Thursday night, while the girl was sleeping, they strangled her to death. Her body was then dumped in a nearby pond.
The gruesome discovery of the girl’s body on Friday prompted a swift response from the authorities. Superintendent of Police Swapan Gautam Meshram formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Sanjay Kumar Pandey, to investigate the case.
Initially, the girl’s grandmother, Bhagmania Devi, lodged a complaint against Vivek Chauhan, his brother Ashok Chauhan, and their aunt Urmila Devi, accusing them of involvement in the girl’s death. The case was filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, as well as the POCSO and SC/ST Acts.
Vivek Chauhan, the boy the girl intended to marry, was arrested and sent to jail. However, inconsistencies in the family’s account and scientific evidence led the SIT to suspect foul play. A thorough investigation, including witness statements, revealed the true story behind the girl’s death—a hate killing perpetrated by her own family.
SDPO Sanjay Kumar Pandey confirmed that the girl’s grandfather, Ghura Paswan, and her uncles, Rahul Kumar and Ravi Kumar, had confessed to the crime. They admitted to killing the girl to prevent her from marrying outside their caste, an act they believed would disgrace the family. The accused have been arrested and sent to jail.
The case has highlighted the persistent issue of caste-based violence and honour killings in India, where societal pressures and deeply entrenched prejudices continue to lead to tragic outcomes.