In a suspected case of `honour’ killing in Hardoi, a 17-year-old girl was found brutally murdered behind her house on Thursday.

The victim's throat had been slit with a knife.

The family members lodged a report against unknown miscreants but the circumstantial evidence pointed to the hand of some insider in the killing. The police sent the body for post-mortem and were investigating the case.

Superintendent of Police (Hardoi), Rajesh Dwivedi, said, "The murder took place sometime on Wednesday night when the victim's throat was slit. The police are investigating the murder but there is no evidence of honour killing yet."

The victim, Goldie, was the daughter of a local resident, Deshraj, of Jakhwa village. Her body was found lying in a pool of blood behind her house on Thursday morning. After the locals spotted the body they raised an alarm and also called the family members. Later the police were informed about the murder.

The local police inspected the spot and also enquired from the family members and the relatives about the possible reasons for the victim's murder. In addition to finding a blood-stained knife, the police also recovered a pair of slippers, a mobile phone and mustard oil from near the body. Blood stains were also found on the terrace of the house.

Police are investigating the case apprehending that the killing took place over some `love affair’.

In another tragic incident in Farrukhabad, a four-year old boy was killed when a stray bullet hit him on the head at a pre-wedding tilak ceremony on Wednesday night.

The boy was identified as Dinesh. A probe has been initiated but no one has been arrested so far in connection with the murder.

The incident happened at the house of Kishan Pal Jatav in Khimsepur village under Mohammadabad police station in Farrukhabad district where a pre-wedding tilak ceremony was going on. People in a mood of jubilation started firing from their guns and the boy was accidentally hit on his head which caused his death. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but he died on the way.

According to the police, the boy was the son of Tinku Jatav, one of Kishan Pal's relatives who stayed in nearby Kuberpur village. Police rushed to the spot and a probe was initiated.

“The minor child sustained gunshot injuries in his head and based on the complaint further action will be initiated," said Inspector Dilip Kumar Bind, who was at the spot to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, in a bizarre case in Etah, a teacher made an attempt on the life of the principal for opposing him to sign attendance register for the days he was absent. The principal managed to escape unhurt while the teacher was suspended.

The incident took place in Jalalpur Santhal in Etah's Sakit block. School principal Arvind Kumar said that assistant teacher Digendra Pratap Singh was often absent at school and they had several arguments with him over this issue in the past.

On Tuesday, Digendra Pratap Singh came to school and also signed the register for the previous absent days. When Kumar opposed, he was first beaten up and later the teacher fired three shots with a licensed pistol. Luckily the principal narrowly escaped being hit by a bullet.

The incident was captured on a video which has since been widely shared on social media. The sound of gunshots created panic in the school. After firing, the accused teacher allegedly left the premises waving the gun and hurling abuses.

Kumar said the basic shiksha adhikari (BSA) had been informed about the incident and Block Education Officer Sakeet Neerja Chaturvedi investigated the matter.

The children and others present were questioned by the police. The teacher was immediately suspended.

"The matter is from Sakit block. A primary school teacher arrived late, had a dispute with the headmaster there and fired his gun. There was a complaint of firing, the BSA suspended the teacher and further investigation is being done," said Etah’s Additional District Magistrate Vivek Kumar.

A case will be registered against the accused and a letter will be written to the administration to cancel the gun license, he added.