Govind Singh was beaten to death at Paqahunshi village under Kursakanta police station two days ago after a decision was taken in a small meeting attended by some villagers including his father and the girl's father.

"Soon after the girl's father read out a death sentence to Govind, over a dozen people attacked him with bamboo sticks and beat him to death," a police official said, describing it as a case of honour killing.

"Everything happened in my presence. I begged for mercy for my son but they ignored my pleas and went on beating him," Govind's father Baldeo Singh said.

Araria Deputy Superintendent of Police Hari Shankar Kumar said Govind was beaten to death two days ago. An FIR has been lodged against 18 people but police are yet to arrest any accused so far.

Kumar described the incident as barbaric and gruesome. "It appears to be an incident of medieval time," he said.

According to police officials associated with the investigation in the case, Govind and the girl were in love for the last few years.

But the girl was forcibly married to another man Bechan Singh of a nearby village three months ago. After that, Govind eloped with the girl two weeks ago.

Govind, a resident of Madhubani village under the same police station, was traced to Punjab by the girl's family after the couple ran away from the village.

"Govind and his beloved were reluctant to return to the village but they were lured by a promise that they would be allowed to marry with social sanction and the girl's family will not oppose it," a police official said.