Lovers shot dead in UP as onlookers do nothing

People did not dare stop honour killing by girls father

In yet another case of killing for the sake of family honour, a man allegedly shot dead his daughter and her lover in full public view in Uttar Pradesh's Etah district, about 300 kilometers from here, according to reports.

The reports said the people of the entire Nadarmai village remained mute spectators as the alleged killers dragged the two lovers, ignoring their desperate pleas to let them go, and showered them with bullets.

According to police sources, Vinay Kumar, a resident of the village, was having an affair with Rajnesh for the past several months though their families did not approve of their relationship.

“I had tried to persuade Vinay to end this relationship as Rajnesh’s father Jaswant is a die-hard criminal and a history sheeter, but he did not pay heed to my advice,” said Ram Singh, Vinay's father.

On Saturday evening, Jaswant, along with seven armed personnel, barged into Vinay's house and dragged him outside. He took him towards his house in the village, sources said.

Vinay was thrashed mercilessly and he almost fainted, reports said. As Rajnesh rushed to save him, the armed goons beat her up too.

Tied his hands, feet

Ram Singh pleaded with Jaswant to leave his son but he did not relent. The goons tied his hands and feet as well. None of the villagers dared to come to their rescue when Singh pleaded with them to help his son.

A few minutes later, Jaswant shot dead Rajnesh and Vinay before scores of villagers, including a shocked Singh and his wife.

Then he set up a pyre and tried to burn their bodies. The police, which were informed later, retrieved the half burnt bodies and sent them for post-mortem.

Tension prevailed in the village and security personnel were deployed in strength as a precautionary measure. Two of the alleged culprits have been arrested and efforts are on to nab the others, including the main accused Jaswant.

Honour killings are quite common in UP, especially in the western region of the state. The caste panchayats have declared that they will not allow love marriages and marriages within the same ‘gotra’.