Suicide or honour killing?

SRINAGAR: A love story has ended on a tragic note after parents of a girl allegedly drove her to suicide in the Pattan area of north Kashmir.

Villagers suspected foul play, prompting the police to exhume the body for autopsy to learn whether the girl committed suicide or if it was an honour killing.

Safia, 22, was buried under mysterious circumstances a few days ago. Her parents said she committed suicide by taking poison. The matter was reported to the police by the village chowkidar a few days later, and an inquiry into the case was started.
Mohammad Yousuf Bandh, sub-divisional police officer, Pattan, said she was having an affair with a local boy but her parents were unwilling them married because of a family dispute.

“A few days ago there was an altercation in which her maternal uncle thrashed her nephew for mediating between Safia and her beau. The issue snowballed into a controversy,” said Bandh.

“Safia reportedly could not take it any more and consumed poison. She was shifted to Pattan hospital where she died. However, the family buried her during the night without informing the police,” said Bandh.
h_ishfaq@dnaindia.net