Honour killing in Thane? In-laws hack man to death in front of his wife

In a case of alleged honour killing, family members of a 21-year-old woman hacked her husband to death right in front of her eyes in Thane on Monday.

The deceased, a 26-year-old resident of Gandhi Nagar in Ulhasnagar-5, has been identified as Pankaj Gauhar. He married Pooja Saudhe last week despite facing opposition from both the families.

Upon learning that the two have done a court marriage, both the families accepted their union. Thereafter, Pooja’s family allegedly started taunting Pankaj about his profession – he was a tea vendor – and asked him to find a better job in the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation.

Pooja’s family members were also upset because Pankaj belonged to a lower caste.

However, around 12.15 am, when Pankaj’s was watching television, eight members from Pooja’s family barged into his home and started assaulting Pankaj with iron rods, knives and choppers. They allegedly threatened his family members of dire consequences if they informed the police.

After the attackers left, Pankaj’s family members rushed him to Central Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Hill Line police have booked Pooja’s brother Arun Saudhe and her maternal uncles Shyam Saudhe, Dhannu Saudhe and Lokesh Saudhe and four others under section 302, 307, 452, 147, 148, 148, 149, 323, 506 (2), 506, 427 of the IPC and relevant sections of the Arms Act.

While the two of the accused have been arrested, the police are on a lookout for the rest.