Dalit man killed, wife accuses her family

Vijayawada: A 30-year-old Dalit man, working as a physiotherapist in Adoni town of Kurnool district, was on Thursday murdered, allegedly by his upper caste wife’s family members. Adam Smith, a resident of RTC Colony in Adoni town, was found lying near his bike in a pool of blood. His head had been smashed beyond recognition with a boulder.
Adoni DSP Vinod Kumar told TOI that Smith had married Maheshwari (24), an upper caste Hindu, a month ago.
“The couple had been in a relationship for eight years and got their marriage solemnised at an Arya Samaj venue amid opposition from family members,” he said. After their marriage, they had been staying at RTC Colony where Smith worked in a local hospital.
Eyewitnesses said two unidentified assailants followed his two-wheeler and hit Smith on the head with an iron rod, causing him to fall. They got down from their vehicle and dropped a large boulder on his head. Locals called an ambulance and took him to a local government hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.
A devastated Maheshwari lodged a complaint with the police, accusing her family members of the murder. She said they repeatedly threatened to kill her husband. A case has been registered under 302 of IPC and relevant sections of the Atrocities Act. Police have detained some members of Maheswari’s family and are on the lookout for her father and uncle who are the main suspects in the case.
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Tension prevailed at Benigeri village in Aspari mandal of Kurnool district on Thursday after relatives of a 14-year-old girl, who allegedly eloped with a Dalit boy, vandalised the boy’s house. Police said the boy belongs to the SC community while the girl is from Boya community. They were in a relationship for some time and eloped on December 29. A police picket has been set up to avert more violence in the village. Cops have registered two cases — one against the boy for alleged kidnapping of a minor girl and another against the girl’s family members for damaging property.