A father allegedly beheaded his daughter with an axe and chopped her body into six parts in India.

The accused, Naeem Khan, reportedly killed his 17-year-old child, decapitating her and chopping her body into six parts on Monday in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh.

Reports suggest that the father carried out the brutal act because his daughter was having an affair with a boy. Officials said she refused to end her relationship with her lover despite repeated warnings from her father.

The victim was reportedly the eldest of the man's three daughters.

Superintendent of Police (Rural) Pavit Mohan Tripathi said: 'The teenager was having an affair with a youth from the same village, and she had run away from home twice before.'

The police added: 'Naeem said his daughter's behaviour could have a negative impact on his other children, so he killed his daughter with a sharp weapon.'

Following the alleged murder, cops took the father into custody, based on the FIR filed by the teenager's mother. Officials said they recovered the disfigured body and sent it for a post-mortem examination.

The investigation into the case is still ongoing.

Honour killings remain a grave issue in India. They often involve the murder of a woman or girl by male family members. These killings typically occur when a male relative perceives that the victim has brought shame or dishonor to the family, usually due to relationships or actions that go against traditional or cultural norms.