M A I N   N E W S

Lovers united in death
N.D. Sharma

Bhopal, December 3
They were desperately in love with each other, but had to die to get married. This tragic love story took place in Khandwa district. Shankar Sutar (26) was employed as a tractor driver by Guddu Darbar, a farmer of Ashapur village. He fell in love with 17-year-old Shyamabai who was working as a labourer at the same place. Shankar belonged to the Sutar community while Shyamabai was from the Korku community. Their marriage was not sanctioned by the elders of the two communities.

On November 19, Shankar asked Guddu Darbar to settle his accounts, as he did not want to work any more. On November 20, Shankar and Shyamabai disappeared from the village.

Their bodies were recovered from nearby a forest on November 29. They had consumed pesticide. Shankar had Rs 860 on his person.

They were cremated on Wednesday. But before that, they were dressed as bride and bridegroom. The dead Shankar was made to put sindoor (vermilion) in the forehead of the dead Shyamabai and also put a mangalsutra round her neck. The two were then placed on a single funeral pyre.