In a horrific incident that has sent shockwaves across Karnataka, a 20-year-old pregnant woman was allegedly murdered by her own father and relatives in the Dharwad district. The crime was a brutal culmination of opposition to her inter-caste marriage to a man from the Scheduled Caste community.
A Love Story Met with Deadly Opposition
The victim, identified as Manya Dhoddamani, was six months pregnant when she was attacked on Sunday, December 21, 2025. She had married Vivekananda Dhoddamani in May this year. Both were undergraduate students and residents of the same village, Inam Veerapur, in the Hubballi taluk of Dharwad.
According to police, the couple fell in love a few years ago. Their relationship blossomed through conversations on Instagram, as meeting in person in their village was difficult. When both families discovered their bond, the couple decided to elope and solemnize their union at a sub-register office in May.
Persistent Threats and a Fatal Return
Knowing the threat they faced, Manya and Vivekananda moved to Haveri after their wedding. The police were already involved, as Manya's family had threatened to set fire to Vivekananda's house. A local police officer had even convened a meeting, warning Manya's parents not to trouble the couple after they declared they would not allow her back home.
The tragedy struck when the couple returned to Inam Veerapur on December 8. Sources indicate they came to collect important documents, including Aadhaar cards, needed for hospital admission during the impending delivery.
The Brutal Attack and Aftermath
On the fateful Sunday, while Manya was working on a farm, her father, Prakashgouda Patil, along with relatives Veeranagouda Patil and Arunagouda Patil, allegedly launched a vicious assault. "The accused assaulted Manya with pipes," stated Gunjan Arya, Superintendent of Police, Dharwad. When Vivekananda's mother, Renavva, and a relative named Subhash tried to intervene, they were also brutally attacked.
All three injured were rushed to a private hospital in Hubballi, where Manya, who was from the Lingayat community, succumbed to her injuries. In a parallel attack, another group tried to assault Vivekananda, who was outside with his brother, but he managed to escape and reach the police station for safety.
The Hubballi Rural police have registered a murder case and arrested the three accused—Prakashgouda Patil, Veeranagouda Patil, and Arunagouda Patil. Investigations are ongoing to probe the full extent of this heinous crime that highlights the deadly persistence of caste-based violence.
