A 27-year-old youth named Aneesh, who got married about three months ago, was hacked to death by his wife's relatives in Kerala's Palakkad district. The incident that happened on Friday evening is suspected to be a case of honour killing.

Reportedly, the deceased belonged to the OBC blacksmith community and his wife Haritha (21) belonged to a higher caste and well-to-do family. The duo got married recently after several years of friendship, which began from their school days. The victim's relatives and friends allege that the girl’s family opposed their wedding and have been threatening the couple ever since they got married.

The police have arrested the bride's father Prabhukumar and uncle Suresh in connection to the case. “As the couple belonged to different castes, we prima facie assume that it is a case of ‘honour killing’. A detailed probe is on and statements are being recorded. The murder has happened after a series of incidents over the last three months. After the marriage, both parties were summoned to the police station. The girl’s family had agreed not to trouble the newly-wed couple. Even after that, her uncle reacted emotionally against the marriage. He wanted the girl to come out of the relationship. On Friday also, the uncle had a tiff with the youth, which later in the day led to the murder,’’ said the Police.

According to police, the murder was planned and executed by the two accused when Aneesh and his brother were going on a bike. When the duo stopped at a shop, it was his father-in-law who attacked him first with a sharp weapon. From the brutal attack, Aneesh sustained a deep cut on the neck and other serious injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital. However, he was declared dead.