A newly-wed Couple shot dead in suspected honour killing in Punjab

Amritsar, Jan 26: In a case of suspected honour killing, a newly-wed couple were shot dead allegedly by the girl's family members in public view in Punjab's Tarn Taran district, days after the High Court directed the police to provide security to them.

The victims Balkar Singh, 30, and 19-year-old Ravinder Pal Kaur had a court marriage on January 1 this year against the will of the girl's parents and had approached the Punjab Haryana High Court after allegedly receiving threats but were yet to get security cover despite a court direction, police said.

Kabul Singh, father of the girl, along with his son Rajbir Singh and two cousins Jatinder Singh and Sarmail Singh allegedly chased Balkar Singh, who was buying edibles, and shot him dead yesterday, police said.

The assailants later reached his house to kill his wife Ravinder Pal Kaur, who ran towards the fields. But they chased her too and fired at her, killing her on the spot.

No arrest has been made so far and raids were being carried out to nab the accused.

The couple had recently approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court for protection following which police of both districts Amritsar and Tarn Taran were directed to provide security to the newly-wed couple as they were constantly receiving threats from the girl's parents.