Delhi man kills daughter for being in a relationship, arrested

New Delhi: Police on Friday arrested a man who allegedly strangled to death his 15 year-old daughter, cremated her body and threatened to kill his other children if his wife disclosed the matter to anyone.

The incident, which occurred in southeast Delhi's Jaitpur area, came to light yesterday after the girl's mother confided in a neighbour, who called up the police, and the accused father was picked up for questioning.

"The accused was arrested today under relevant provisions of law," DCP (Southeast) M S Randhawa said.

During interrogation, the father confessed to have killed the 15-year-old girl in a fit of rage but denied any form of sexual assault, a suspicion raised by some relatives and neighbours, an official privy to the investigation said.

Since the body has been cremated, possibility of sexual assault cannot be verified.

He said it is suspected that the accused was unhappy with his daughter for being in a relationship with a boy and both often had heated arguments over the matter.

During one such quarrel on April 17, the accused strangled his daughter to death.

His wife was present in the house at the time of the incident.

He then threatened his wife that he would kill the other children too if she mentioned about the incident to anyone.

He then cremated the girl, returned home and spread a rumour in the locality that his daughter committed suicide as that she was depressed because she suffered from epilepsy, the official said.

Investigation is underway.

The case is being probed from all possible angles, the official added.