A teenager has been arrested in India for decapitating his pregnant sister as their mother allegedly held the victim’s legs, according to police, CNN reported.
The 19-year-old had wed contrary to her parent’s wishes. She was two months pregnant, police told the outlet, citing the woman’s husband.
“The girl (19) went against her parents’ wishes and got married five months ago. They had a court marriage and since then she had not been in contact with her family and was living with her husband,” police official Kailash Prajapati informed the outlet.
The gruesome execution occurred on Sunday. The relatives went to the young woman’s residence and she invited them in for tea, Prajapati noted, according to CNN.
“That is when the brother took a scythe and struck her four times and beheaded her. They then picked up the head and kept it outside the house in the yard and left the body inside,” he said. “The mother was holding her legs during the incident and was equally complicit.”
The slain woman’s spouse, who had been sleeping, awoke when he heard the sound, police noted, according to CNN. “The accused attacked him as well but he was able to escape,” Prajapati said.
Authorities said the duo went to a police station and admitted to the slaying.
While the two have not been formally charged, Prajapati noted that the police report identified murder as the charge for each of them, pending an investigation, according to CNN.
Police were waiting for an autopsy to verify if the deceased was pregnant, the outlet noted.
The BBC reported that police suspect the individuals took a selfie photo with the head.
The outlet also said that the victim did not contact her family much after getting married, but tha the mother visited a week prior to the killing. Police said the mother was aware of the daughter’s pregnancy, the BBC noted.