The National Capital Region was rocked on Monday as reports came in of 'honour killings' of two couples by their relatives on grounds of inter-caste relationship, leading the Supreme Court to intervene. The apex court issued notices to the Centre and nine states asking them about steps to curb honour killings.
In Delhi's Ashok Nagar, 24-year-old Monica, a Gujjar, and 26- year old Kuldeep, a Rajput, were found murdered. Monica's body was found inside the house, while Kuldeep's body was found inside a car.
"It was an inter-caste marriage. It looks like a case of honour killing to us," said police officer Ajit Singh. This was the fourth case of honour killing in the last seven days in Delhi alone.
In neighbouring state Haryana, notorious for honour killings and curbs on inter-caste and same gotra marriages, the bodies of 22-year-old Rinku and 20-year-old Monica were found hanging from a tree on Sunday night in Bhiwani. They belonged to the same caste. Six of Monica's relatives including her mother have been booked for murder, police said.
Delhi police has taken 10 people belonging to both families into custody. Police suspect the hand of the victims' brothers in these grisly murders in Ashok Vihar.
Kuldip's body was found in his Esteem car in I Block of Ashok Vihar. Both were shot at close range. Their families informed the police three hours after the incident.
Said Ajit Singh, Kuldip's father: "I got a phone call in the evening saying that Kuldip has been shot and the daughter-in-law is dead. I had gone for an evening walk."
Kuldip and Monica had married in 2006 defying opposition as both the families were unhappy with the marriage. They had taken a flat on rent in Ashok Vihar. Kuldip used to work in a company in Gurgaon, while Monica was a homemaker.
Said Sunil Agarwal, the house owner: "Some people from the girl's family had come at 6.30 in the evening to meet her. Kuldip went down taking his car keys. My daughter came and told me that Didi is unconscious."
The killings of Rinku and Monica in Bhiwani were more brutal. Both the boy and girl were hung from a tree near their uncle's house in Neenawadi village near Bhiwani. The bodies were sent for post-mortem to PGI Rohtak.
Bhiwani police has filed case under sections 302, 148, 149 and 452 against six persons including the girl's father Dalbir, uncle, aunt, brother and mother. But till late evening none of them have been arrested.Rinku's uncle said, his nephew was beaten up with lathis leading to his death.
