Patna, April 4: The parents of a 16-year-old girl allegedly killed her in Gaya district last night for falling in love with a boy from a different caste.

Police said the Class IX student's father, Tapeshwar Yadav, and his relatives allegedly hacked Mamta Kumar to death in Chahal Mundera village under the jurisdiction of Atari police station, around 120km south of Patna.

A team from Atari police station recovered the body when the relatives were trying to dispose it on Tuesday.

The station house officer (SHO) of Atari police station, Krishna Kumar, said prima facie, it appeared to be a case of honour killing.

The SHO said the girl's family members were absconding. "Raids are on. The body has been sent for autopsy.

"We have registered a case against the father, mother and other members of the girl's family," the SHO said.

Residents of the village told the police that the girl had fallen in love with Pravin Kumar, who had appeared in the recently concluded matriculation examination. The girl studied in the same school. The couple eloped on Monday and reached Bhalua village under the jurisdiction of Khijarsarai police station.

They had ostensibly planned to leave for Delhi the next day. However, the girl's father and his relatives intercepted them. Pravin managed to flee and took shelter in neighbouring Sripur village. Though Tapeshwar tried to capture Pravin again, Sripur village residents came to his rescue.

Tapeshwar returned to his house with his daughter and allegedly killed her late in the night, apparently in a fit of rage.