Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga (SP)

Shivamogga, Jan 6: A 45-year-old man from Chandanakere village near Holehonnur in the district, who was livid at the decision taken by his 19-year-old elder daughter to marry a person from another caste, mistakenly pierced the stomach of the younger daughter when the sisters were asleep on Sunday night.

The family belongs to Lingayat community. The farmer's elder sister, who has completed diploma in nursing, wanted to marry a taxi driver from the same village. Her father opposed the alliance tooth and nail, but the girl remained adamant. A number of locals including family elders together approached him and convinced him to give in to the wishes of his daughter, after which he relented.

Although the farmer prescribed that his daughter should enter wedlock through registered marriage, the groom insisted on conventional marriage. The marriage was scheduled for January 6. The father, it is believed, was dead against this alliance although he had given his nod for it under pressure.

On Sunday, after everyone went to sleep, the farmer took out a crowbar he had previously procured, and stuck it into the body of his daughter. As both his daughters were sleeping together, by sheer bad luck, he pierced the crowbar into the body of his younger daughter. As the girl let out loud screams, the father escaped. After all the family members gathered around his bleeding daughter, he too joined them, acting as if he did not know anything about it. The girl was hospitalized, and her condition is stated to be critical.

Holehonnur police, who received a complaint about the incident on Monday, zeroed in on the culprit during questioning of family members. The father, who admitted to his wrongdoing, was arrested and produced in court on Tuesday. He has been lodged in judicial custody.