Ten sentenced to death for killing lovers who eloped

The father and brother of a 20-year-old Indian woman have been sentenced to death for killing her and her husband for marrying within the same Hindu clan.

Eight other family members also were given the death penalty for the killings three years ago in Uttar Pradesh state. The verdict can be appealed.

Last month, India's top court recommended the death penalty for perpetrators of "honour killings," calling the practice barbaric and feudal.

While there are no official figures, an independent study found that around 900 people are killed each year in India for defying their elders. Most victims are young adults who fell in love or married against their families' wishes. In some cases, village councils condemned to death couples who married inside their clan or caste.

The ten defendants were convicted of killing Vijaya and Udaipal Singh after they eloped.