An 18-year-old girl and a police officer escorting her were shot dead on Wednesday by unidentified people on a bike near the Mini Secretariat in Haryana’s Rohtak. A First Information Report has been filed against the girl’s father and unknown people.
Rohtak Superintendent of Police Jashandeep Singh Randhawa said preliminary investigation suggested that it was a case of “honour killing”. The girl, who belongs to the Jat community, had married a Dalit man last year against her parents’ wishes, according to The Tribune.
“Four persons have been rounded up for questioning,” Randhawa said. “We have got vital clues and the shooters as well as the conspirators would soon be arrested.”
According to the police, a First Information Report was filed against the Dalit man after the girl’s parents lodged a complaint that she was a minor when they got married in 2017. “Her husband was sent to Rohtak jail, where he is lodged at present,” said Station House Officer of Civil Lines police station Shri Bhagwan. The girl refused to go back to her parents and was sent to Naari Niketan in Karnal, Bhagwan told the Hindustan Times.
On Wednesday, the girl was escorted by sub-inspector Narender Kumar and a woman constable for a hearing at the Rohtak court on her date of birth. When they left the court, two people on a bike reportedly opened fire at the girl and Kumar, reported The Indian Express. The woman constable escaped unhurt. The girl and Kumar were taken to a hospital where they were declared dead on arrival.
“It has been found that the woman’s father was also present near the court when the incident happened, but he managed to flee,” Bhagwan said, adding that a police team has been formed to arrest him.
The police said they have recovered seven empty cartridges from the spot.
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