Mumbai Dalit teen killed for being in love with girl from upper caste; police arrest 7 accused, girl sent to juvenile home

Delhi, July 21: An inter-caste relationship has cost a young boy his life as honour killing rears its head again. The victim, a 16-year-old Dalit boy was allegedly killed by members of the girl’s family for being in love with her.  The police have arrested seven people, including the girl and her relatives in connection with the case. The girl has been sent to a juvenile home.

The boy, 16-year-old Swapnil Sonawane, a resident of Dharave village in Nerul area of Navi Mumbai, was lynched by the girl’s family for being in a relationship with the girl, who belonged to the Agri community. The father of the boy has accused the police of having failed to take up the matter when he had earlier complained of intimidation and threats by the girl’s relatives.

Recalling the unfateful turn of events, Mr Shahaji Sonawane, father of deceased said that it had all started with the boy receiving a call from the girl’s brother asking to meet him.  A rickshaw that was waiting for him near his building gate picked him up and the boy was roughed up while being taken to the police station.

At the police station Swapnil was warned against communicating with the girl thereafter. The boy was also asked to give a statement promising not to do so.

Mr Shahaji also mentions that while on their way out a cop asked them to be more careful and stop their son from any further advances or else blood would be spilled like the movie Sairat. The marati movie Sairat’s plot deals with the issue of honour killing, in which the couple are killed leaving behind a child.

Later on Mr Shahaji received a call from the girl’s brother telling him that they would let go of the matter if the boy apologised to the parents of the girl for their actions. Worried for his son’s safety and wanting to sort the matter peacefully once and for all Shahaji along with his wife and son agree to meet the parents of the girl. While at their home the boy was asked to apologise to the girl and touch her feet. Things took an ugly turn then with the boy being slapped a few times and the family was chased by a group of 20 odd people and beaten with iron rods. The boy was pronounced dead on being brought to the local DY Patil hospital.

According to the Nerul police, “A case has been registered under Section 302 (murder), Section 362 (abduction) and Section 503(criminal intimidation) under the Indian Penal code along with relevant sections of the Atrocity Act and have been remanded in police custody till July 25.

Mumbai Police have confirmed suspension of the two erring police officers who refused to register the complaint of the boy’s family.