24-year-old married woman brutally killed by family for eloping with lover in K’taka

A 24-year-old woman, Satyavva Santosha Helavi, was allegedly killed by family members in Belagavi after eloping with her partner. Police arrested three relatives, including her brother, as investigations continue into the honour killing case

Belagavi: An incident of honour killing was reported from the Yamanakanamaradi police station area in Karnataka’s Belagavi district on Tuesday.

Three people, including her brother, have been arrested in connection with the case. The deceased woman has been identified as 24-year-old Satyavva Santosha Helavi, a resident of Hanabaratti village in Rayabagh taluk.

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The arrested have been identified as the victim’s uncle, Prakash Helavara, a resident of Gudikshetra village near Hukkeri; the victim’s brother, Shyanura Helavara; and her brother-in-law, Morabada Kallappa, a resident of Rayabagh.

According to the police, Satyavva was married to Santosh Helavi. However, she eloped with her lover, 28-year-old Krishna Patil.

The family lodged a missing persons complaint at the police station, but later tracked her down, and allegedly planned to murder her. She was hacked to death, and her body was burned to destroy evidence.

The incident took place on March 13 but came to light only recently. A complaint was later registered, following which the police cracked the case and arrested the accused.

Further details are awaited.

It can be recalled that in April, Karnataka officially enacted a dedicated law to combat “honour killings” and violence against inter-caste couples, titled the Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the Name of Honour and Tradition (Eva Nammava, Eva Nammava) Act, 2026.

In December 2025, 19-year-old Manya Vivekanand Doddamani (formerly Manya Patil), a pregnant woman from the Lingayat community, was killed by her father and relatives for marrying a Dalit man. The incident took place in Inam Veerapur village, Dharwad district.

An 18-year-old girl, named Kavita Kollura, was strangled and her body burnt by her father and relatives for her inter-caste relationship.

In June 2023, 17-year-old Nethravathy was murdered by her father, brother, and uncle for being in a relationship with a Scheduled Caste (SC) man. She was force-fed pesticides and later strangled.

Her body was cremated, and the family projected it as suicide. The incident was reported from the Tumakuru district.