Bhattian (Patiala), March 4
It almost
seems like a conspiracy of silence. Or better still an acquiescence to the
alleged act of murder of a young girl who had dared to elope with a boy from
another caste. Villagers say they know nothing of the alleged incident.
Rano,
the girl from the Kumhiar caste, who had dared to fall in love with Gurvinder, a
registered medical practitioner (RMP) practising in her village, died under
mysterious circumstances on February 9. She was cremated the same day. Even
though none had come forward to report the incident till now, the police had
registered a case of murder against Rano’s parents and started investigations in
the case.
Rano had allegedly eloped with Gurvinder, a resident of Thakurgarh
village in this district, on January 30 and returned to her house on February 7
after her father, a rich landlord, promised them that they would be married to
each other within two months. Two days later she died with her family claiming
that uncontrollable vomiting was the reason behind her death. The girl could not
get any medical attention with Rano’s mother Mohinder Kaur claiming that there
was no time to even call a doctor.
Villagers are not willing to talk about the
affair between Gurvinder and Rano. While Sarpanch Harbans Singh was away, his
brother Hardev Singh said he did not know anything about the matter as he was in
hospital when the incident took place. He said he had not even got any
information on the issue from others.
Few villagers, while not wanting to talk
about the incident, feel Rano met her come-uppance. One of them said the
incident would serve as a lesson to other girls of the village. While another
felt it could be possible that Rano’s parents were not left with any option. No
one wanted to be quoted or photographed by the media.
Patiala SSP A S Rai said
the district police had registered a case of murder against the parents of Rano
on the suspicion that the girl may have been done to death. He said the police
had, however, not received any complaint in the matter. But it was investigating
the case.
Meanwhile, DSP (Rural) Bhupinder Singh, who is inquiring the case,
said Gurvinder Singh had still not come forward to give his statement in the
case. However, sources disclosed that the police had questioned some residents
of the village but was still to question the parents of the girl. Gurvinder said
he did not know under what circumstances an FIR had been registered in the case.
He said he could give his statement if someone asked for it. Asked whether he
would come forward to depose in the case, he burst out crying “I do not want to
do anything. I am not going to get my Rano back”.
