A 13-year-old girl was beheaded with a sickle in India for refusing to have sex with her neighbour, according to reports.
The violent attack is said to have taken place in the Salem district of Tamil Nadu.
Ponkarthik Kumar, a senior police official in the district, told CNN: "The girl was brutally murdered. The investigation is ongoing and the accused has been arrested."
Police reportedly said the act was carried out using a sickle.
The arrested man is believed to be of a higher caste to his alleged victim, increasing fears about caste-based violence in the country.
CNN said police charged him under the act that criminalises caste-based violence. The law has existed in India since 1989.
The caste system divides Hindus into rigid hierarchical groups based on work and religion.
It is believed to have been around for 3,000 years and there are four main categories - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.
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