Couple found dead in Delhi; honour killing suspected

NEW DELHI - A man and woman who married four years ago against the wishes of the woman’s parents were found murdered in the Indian capital amid speculation that it might be an “honour killing”.

While 26-year-old Kuldeep was found shot dead in his car Sunday evening, his wife Monica, 23, died after being attacked by a sharp object at their home in north Delhi’s Ashok Vihar area.

Kuldeep and Monica married in 2006. Monica’s parents were bitterly against the alliance as they belonged to different castes.

The police said Kuldeep’s family was blaming Monica’s family, specifically her brothers, for the double murder.

“We suspect the case to be of honour killing but we cannot confirm it now. We suspect that a close member of the family would have murdered Monica, as the murderer made a friendly entry to the house and the neighbours never overheard any noise from her house,” Deputy Commissioner N.S. Bundela said.

“A few suspects have been identified but we cannot reveal their name as we have not started our investigation properly,” he said, adding that a clear picture will emerge only after getting the post-mortem report.