Samana girl killed for ‘honour’; father, brother held

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 17

The father and brother of 21-year-old Jyoti of Gheora village in Samana have been arrested for murdering her. She had reportedly married  Gurjant Singh, 24, from the same village against the wishes of her family. Jyoti was allegedly strangled to death on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

As the family was preparing to cremate the body, a villager informed Jyoti’s husband, who called the police.

Samana Station House Officer Gurdeep Singh said Manjeet Singh (father) and Jinder Singh (brother) were immediately arrested and they confessed to killing Jyoti for “bringing a bad name to the family.” Further investigations were underway to ascertain the role of other family members.

The police said Jyoti and Gurjant got married on May 19 in Chandigarh. Following a panchayat diktat on June 8, they were separated. A few days after the forced separation, Jyoti returned to Gurjant’s house. On Monday morning, she was forcibly taken away by her family, said sources. “Jyoti kept pleading she wanted to live with me. I informed the police, but they  did not act. Had they done so, she could have been saved,” said Gurjant.