Patna: A tragic case of honour killing unfolded in Patna on Thursday, as a young couple was found dead in a brutal incident that has shocked the community. The bodies of Pratima Rani (18) and her lover Avnish Kumar, also known as Roshan (22), were discovered in their family home—Pratima on the first floor and Avnish on the second. The police have arrested Pratima’s brother, Vishal Yadav (22), who has confessed to killing Avnish but denies responsibility for his sister’s death.
During police interrogation, Vishal admitted to killing Avnish after finding him with Pratima in a compromising situation in a nearby abandoned house. According to Vishal, he had repeatedly warned the couple to end their relationship, which had caused significant strain on the family due to the social stigma associated with their relationship. Despite his warnings, the couple continued their affair, leading to the tragic events on Thursday night.
Vishal recounted that he confronted the couple in the abandoned house, where an argument broke out. In a fit of rage, Vishal grabbed a glass bottle and struck Avnish on the head, killing him instantly. However, Vishal insists that he did not kill his sister. He claims that after slapping her a few times in anger, Pratima went home and took poison, leading to her death.
The police, however, are skeptical of Vishal’s version of events. While Vishal admits to killing Avnish, he denies any involvement in Pratima’s death. The authorities are waiting for the postmortem reports to confirm the exact cause of Pratima’s death.
According to Danapur DSP Pankaj Mishra, Avnish’s body showed signs of a brutal attack, with wounds inflicted by both a knife and a bottle. Pratima’s body, however, bore no external injuries, leaving open the question of whether she was poisoned or if there were other factors involved in her death.
Avnish, who had recently completed a B.Tech degree, was set to start a new job with Tata Company in Pune on Saturday. He had been in a relationship with Pratima for the past year, during which time he also tutored her. Pratima, a first-year college student, lost her father five years ago, and both belonged to farming families in the same village.
The couple’s relationship had caused tension between their families. A year and a half ago, the families had agreed, in the presence of the village Mukhiya, that the couple would end their relationship. However, the proximity of their homes and the ongoing affair continued to fuel resentment, ultimately culminating in this tragic incident.
The police suspect that more people may have been involved in the killings, as it seems unlikely that Vishal acted alone. The investigation is ongoing, with the authorities looking into all angles to uncover the full truth behind the deaths of Pratima and Avnish.
