Author: DH News Service
Publication: The Deccan Herald
Date: June 7, 2002
URL: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jun07/icoup.htm
A young couple was hacked to death
at their residence in Kodihalli on Wednesday night for marrying outside
religion against the wishes of the girl's parents. The deceased have been
identified as Paulraj (32) and Sameena (22), residents of Balappa Lane
in Kodihalli village.
According to the police, Sameena's
father Wahid Khan, a resident of Sudduguntepalya, her brothers Asghar (24)
and Nasir (25) along with three of their friends barged into Sameena's
residence armed with choppers, swords and kugris at around 10 pm and brutally
hacked the couple to death and took away the couple's one-year-old daughter
with them.
However, while returning, the car
in which the accused were travelling, lost control while taking a turn
near the Varthur Lake bund and crashed into a culvert. Seeing the accident,
some people who were waiting at a bus stand, rushed to their help. But
the culprits who escaped unhurt started fleeing.
The public who got suspicious, caught
Saleem and handed him over to the Varthur police who were following the
car as it had avoided a checking point at Kundarahalli Gate. After interrogation,
Saleem confessed to the police.The Varthur police immediately gave the
news to the City Police Control Room and to senior police officers who
rushed to the spot. The car has been seized by the police.
Paulraj a Christian and Sameena
a Muslim, who were in love got married at the Registrar's office in April
2000 against the wishes of Sameena's parents. Paulraj, who had passed SSLC,
was working with Peninsula Engineering Works at Kodihalli.
City Police Commissioner H T Sangliana
said, "from preliminary investigation it is learnt that Wahid Khan and
his family were putting pressure on Paulraj to convert to Islam." To avoid
harassment, the couple kept changing houses. But all this was in vain as
Wahid Khan would find out their new residence and pressure Paulraj repeatedly.
However, it is also said that Wahid
Khan's family was forcing Sameena to live with them as she was their only
daughter. But she refused her parents demand. According to neighbours,
Wahid Khan who visited the couple left in anger after an heated argument
but returned at night along with his sons and their friends to finish off
his daugher and son-in -law.
