In a horrifying incident, an 18-year-old girl was allegedly hacked to death with an axe by her father in full public view after he found her at boyfriend’s residence. The incident took place at Khanpanna village under the limits of Gajner Police Station in Kanpur Dehat district of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday morning. Police have arrested the accused.

The now-deceased teenager fled home late on Tuesday night and went to the house of her 20-year-old boyfriend who runs a shop in the village. Her father learned from her boyfriend and his father that she was at their place. They also told him that she was insisting to live there only.

Subsequently, he picked up an axe and left for the youth’s house. Other family members also accompanied him. They found her when they reached there. On being asked to return home, the girl started arguing, following which her father got filled with rage. He repeatedly attacked her with the axe until she became motionless. The gruesome killing was witnessed by a number of people in the area. Her boyfriend also got injuried as he was also attacked when he attempted to save her, police said.

The girl’s Senior police officials rushed to the spot after receiving information from local residents. “It’s a case of honour killing. We have arrested the girl’s father and recovered the axe,” a report by The Times of India quoted Kanpur Dehat additional superintendent of Police (ADSP), Anup Kumar as saying.

The crime spot was visited by a team of officials from the forensic department. A case has been registered against the man under relevant Indian Penal Code sections, Kumar said, adding that they have recorded statements of the villagers.

The now-deceased teenager’s boyfriend is being administered treatment at the district hospital. He is said to be in a stable condition. The case is being investigated, the ADSP added.