Mumbai:
A 22-year-old man was found hanging from the branch of a tree around 12 pm near Anushakti Nagar in Trombay on Tuesday.
Amol Javde's family alleges that he was murdered by his girlfriend's family, who opposed the relationship because they belonged to different castes.
The boy's family told MiD DAY that Amol who was a second-year commerce student at Ambedkar College was in a relationship with a 17-year-old girl for more than a year.
"The girl stays in Suman Nagar area of Chembur, where my brother used to stay. My son used to visit his place often and that is when they started meeting and eventually fell in love. However, the girl's family was opposed to the relationship because we are Buddhist Dalits and they belong to the Cobbler community, " said Gautam Javde, Amol's father.
Gautam also added that his son and the girl were very much in love and had fled from their homes in December 2009. However, the girl's family filed a kidnapping complaint against Amol at the Chembur police station. Later, he was let off on bail. "My son also faced threats from the girl's uncle," alleged Gautam.
According to the neighbours, the girl often visited Javde's area dressed in a burqa. On July 19, they eloped again. Both families filed missing complaints at respective police stations.
Amol's mother Nanda said the girl called her father on Monday morning and told him that she wanted to marry Amol, but with her family's blessings. The girl's father asked her to return home.
According to investigating officials, Amol's body was found when the police was out on their night patrol. They found the body and took him to Shatabdi Hospital at 2.30 am. The police found a chit of paper in Amol's pocket, which contained the phone number of his sister. She told them that she was in their village and asked the police to call up her father. Amol's father reached the hospital in a state of shock and despair.
However, Amol's father believes that his son did not commit suicide. He told MiD DAY that when he saw the pictures taken at the scene of the crime, he noticed that Amol's legs were touching the ground.
"I noticed that his clothes were smeared with blood and that his nose also showed some dried blood." He also added that his son was found hanging by a plastic rope.
The Trombay police are awaiting the results of the post mortem. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Jalindar Khandagle, said, "We are investigating the matter. If we find anything suspicious, we will register a murder case." He also added that the girl who had eloped with Amol was found at her home and her statement would be recorded soon. The boy's father has filed a complaint against the girl's uncle, aunt and brother last night.
Though the police have lodged the complaint, they are yet to register a murder case.