Hyderabad: A 21-year-old woman was strangled to death by her younger brother at their home in Penjarla village, Kothur mandal, allegedly for resuming contact with her boyfriend despite family objections.
The victim, D Ruchitha, had recently completed her undergraduate degree and was preparing to join an MBA course. She lived with her parents, Raghavendra and Sunitha, and two siblings in the village located in Ranga Reddy district.
According to Kothur police, Ruchitha had been in a relationship with a man from the same village. The families opposed the match and, after mediation by elders, both sides agreed that the couple would cease contact. Despite this, the two resumed phone conversations in recent weeks.
Her brother, 20-year-old Rohith, had objected to the renewed contact and frequently confronted her over it. On Monday, while their parents were away at work, Rohith allegedly saw Ruchitha speaking with her boyfriend and picked a fight.
During the argument, police said, he allegedly strangled her with a wire in a fit of rage. When the parents returned in the evening, Rohith claimed Ruchitha had lost consciousness. The family quickly realised she had been killed and notified police.
A murder case has been registered. Kothur police are continuing their investigation.
