Karnataka: Pregnant Muslim woman burnt alive for allegedly marrying a Dalit man; four people arrested in Vijaypura

A pregnant Muslim woman was set ablaze allegedly by her family for marrying a Dalit man in Karnataka on Saturday night, reports said on Tuesday. Banu Begam and a 24-year-old Dalit man Sayabanna Sharanappa Konnur, both residents of Gundakanala village, were in a relationship.

Earlier, Banu's family dragged the girl to the local police station and sought a case of POCSO to be filed against Sayabanna. However, the police dropped the charges against him as they did not find any criminal case against Sayabanna. After the police let off Sayabanna, the couple decided to elope and get married. They returned home after she got pregnant, with the hope that they will have to accept their marriage.

"Banu's parents wanted her to leave Sayabanna and the boy's father was also not too pleased either. On Saturday night, when the couple refused to give in to their families' demands, Sayabanna's father, along with Banu's mother, brother and sister brutally assaulted him."

“The families did not accept their marriage and a huge fight raged through the day,” the Talikote DySP said.

“Banu’s parents wanted her to leave Sayabanna, and the boy’s father was also not too pleased with the match. On Saturday night, when the couple refused to give in to their families’ demands, Sayabanna’s father, along with Banu’s mother, brother and sister brutally assaulted him,” Patil added.

Sayabanna managed to escape with bite marks all over his body but Banu Begam could not escape. When Sayabanna returned with police, the family members had set her on fire.

Sayabanna received minor injuries while trying to douse the fire but was unsuccessful.

“Based on Sayabanna’s account, none of Banu’s neighbours came forward when he begged them for help. He says that they too were of the opinion that the girl had done a terrible deed and went inside their homes and locked the doors while Banu was being burnt. However, when we went to question the neighbours, they said that they did not see or hear anything and are not cooperating with the investigation,” an officer at the Talikote Police Station said.

On Sunday, Banu’s mother, brother, sister and father-in-law were arrested. “They have been booked for murder and assault. Banu had been stabbed multiple times before being set on fire,” Patil said.

Four other accused in the case - Banu’s two elder sisters and two brothers - are absconding, Patil added.

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 6, 2017