India: Man kills minor girl, flees with severed head after engagement called off

Trigger warning: Some readers may find details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised.

A 32-year-old man in India brutally killed a minor girl and fled with her severed head after their engagement was called off by officials of the Women and Child Development Department on May 9. The girl was bludgeoned to death and later beheaded. The accused is yet to be traced by the police, local reports said.

The incident took place at Surlabbi village in Kodagu district of Karnataka state.

The man was identified as Prakash. Reports mentioned that the victim girl, Meena, had just cleared her Class 10 examination this year.

The engagement was fixed on Thursday, but as per reports, the officials convinced the girl's parents to call off the marriage.

The child welfare department team reached the girl's house and counselled both families after receiving the complaint. They explained that if they proceeded with the marriage, they would be subject to the provisions of the POCSO Act and the Child Marriage Act because the girl was underage.

It appears that Prakash was furious with the decision and in rage but the exact motive is yet to be ascertained. According to news agency PTI, Superintendent of Police (Kodagu), Ramarajan K, said that he entered the victim's house at 5:30 pm (local time),dragged her out and beheaded her andfled the crime scene.

He said, "All efforts are being taken to nab the accused."

"The accused is absconding, we are looking for him. We have been told that child helpline officials from the Social Welfare department had stopped the engagement. We don't know the motive yet," a police officer said.

(With inputs from agencies)