Honor Killing in Bidar, India: Father Murders Daughter for 'Disobedience' in Relationship Choice

Monika Motiram Jadhav
Age: 18
Murdered: February 2025
Residence: Bidar, Karnataka, India
Origin: India
Perpetrator: Father

On Saturday, February 8, it was reported that in Bidar, a city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, a young woman was hacked to death by her father because she wished to marry a man of her own choice.

The 18-year-old Monika Motiram Jadhav was in love and in a relationship. When her father discovered this, he advised her to end the relationship, telling her that he would arrange her marriage to another man from a better family.

Monika ignored her father’s advice and made it clear that she would marry a man of her own choice.

When no one else was home, he attacked Monika. She succumbed to her severe injuries and blood loss. The father fled, and the police have launched a manhunt for him. Her mother, Baghu Bai, has filed a complaint with the police.

What is an honour killing?

An honour killing is a murder in the name of honour. If a brother murders his sister to restore family honour, it is an honour killing. According to activists, the most common reasons for honour killings are as the victim:

refuses to cooperate in an arranged marriage.
wants to end the relationship.
was the victim of rape or sexual assault.
was accused of having a sexual relationship outside of marriage.

Human rights activists believe that 100,000 honour killings are carried out every year, most of which are not reported to the authorities and some are even deliberately covered up by the authorities themselves, for example because the perpetrators are good friends with local policemen, officials or politicians. Violence against girls and women remains a serious problem in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Serbia and Turkey.