Karnataka Couple Stoned To Death, Cops Deny Dishonour Killing

A young couple was stoned to death in Karnataka by her relatives in the state's northern Gadag district on Wednesday, the police have said. The brother and uncle of the woman have been arrested for the murders. The police are looking for two more men they believe to have been involved.

Ramesh and Gangavva, who had two children and had been working in Bengaluru and Shivamogga as construction labourers, had married three years ago, a senior police officer Srinath Joshi told NDTV.

He said Ramesh, 29, had been friends with the accused Ravi, but the two had fallen out when Ramesh fell in love with and married Ravi's sister, Gangavva, 23.

The Superintendent of Police denied reports that the murder was a case of dishonour killing, triggered by the fact that the woman had married outside her caste.

"It was personal enmity between Ramesh and Ravi that had led to the tragic murder," he said.