HYDERABAD, March 13: A pregnant woman and man were axed to death by the woman’s cousins on the pretext of karo-kari in the area of Baldia police station late on Sunday night.

Two of the assailants surrendered the police and confessed to have committed the crime.

Police officials said that four people carrying hatchet intercepted Riaz Manganhar in Mullah Ismail Arain Goth behind Islamiyat Colony and axed him to death.

Soon after, they murdered their cousin, Laila Lashari, 19, in her house in the same village.

Two of the assailants, Sabir Ali Lashari, girl’s brother-in-law and her paternal cousin, Zahid Lashari, surrendered before the Baldia police. The two co-accused, Moharram Lashari and Shahid Lashari escaped.

The Baldia police have lodged a case against them on the complaint of Salar Manganhar, father of Riaz under sections 302 and 34 PPC.

The deceased Riaz was originally resident of Sakrand, Nawabshah district. Those booked in the case are Zahid son of Moharram, Sabir son of Ali Nawaz, Moharram son of Kareem Bux and Shahid son of Kabil, all Lasharis by caste.

The brother of Riaz Manganhar, Shaman said that he was accompanying his brother when they were intercepted by assailants and attacked Riaz with axes. He died on the spot, he said.

The bodies were removed to civil hospital for autopsy. According to the mother of the girl, the murders were the result of honour killing because on countless occasions Riaz was asked by girl’s family not to visit her in their absence but he remained undeterred.

The girl’s father, Mohammad Kabil said that no FIR would be lodged from their side in the matter because his daughter was murdered for having illicit relations.

Her post-mortem showed that the girl was carrying a four-months-old baby.

BURNT TO DEATH: A young woman was burnt to death in her house’s kitchen at Bhai Khan ki chari on Monday evening.