Karnataka: Pregnant woman killed over her marriage to Dalit man, father among three arrested

A 20-year-old pregnant woman was allegedly murdered by her father and relatives in Karnataka’s Dharwad district on Sunday over her inter-caste marriage to a Dalit man, nearly seven months after her wedding, The Indian Express reported.

The woman, Manya Dhoddamani, was six months pregnant and had married Vivekananda Dhoddamani in May. She was allegedly attacked in Inam Veerapur village under the Hubballi Rural taluk.

The Hubballi Rural Police said that three persons were arrested in connection with the killing – Manya Dhoddamani’s father, Prakashgouda Patil, and her relatives, Veeranagouda Patil and Arunagouda Patil, The Indian Express reported.

Manya Dhoddamani belonged to the Lingayat community, The New Indian Express reported.

The couple had married against the wishes of Manya Dhoddamani’s family and had been living in Haveri district.

An unidentified police officer said that Manya Dhoddamani and Vivekananda Dhoddamani had been in a relationship for several years and married at a sub-registrar’s office in May after their families opposed the union, The Indian Express reported.

After the marriage, Manya Dhoddamani’s parents threatened to torch Vivekananda Dhoddamani’s house, but the police warned them, the newspaper reported.

“After they got married, they appeared before the police,” The Indian Express quoted the police officer as saying. “The local police officer convened a meeting between the families, and warned Manya’s parents not to trouble them after they said that they would not allow...

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