Couple from Bihar found dead in Punjab

Sarpanch Amarjit Singh of Maheru village discovered the blood-soaked bodies of Kamlesh Kumar Yadav 23 and Khushboo 20 on the roof of a one-room irrigation pumphouse or tubewell on his farm Thursday morning. The couple,who had run away from their homes in July 2009 and were working on Amarjit Singhs farm since November,were married around three months ago,police said.

Kapurthala SSP Ram Singh initially declined to describe the murders as honour killings,but later confirmed the case against Khushboos father,Arvind Sharma. He said the police were investigating all angles,but added there was nothing to suggest a connection of the murders with robbery or similar motive.

Workers hailing from villages in the vicinity of the couples native Majiawa village in the Kurtha police station area in Bihars Arwal district,said Sharma had threatened to kill them. There were unconfirmed reports that a vehicle stopped on Salarpur Road adjoining Amarjit Singhs farm late Wednesday night,and some people got off and walked to the tubewell where Kamlesh and Khushboo were sleeping. Shamboo Mandal,who lives on a nearby farm and knew the couple,said people from Kamleshs native village had told him his life was in danger. Kashi,another neighbour and native of Kamleshs village,said Khushboos father had been looking to punish the couple ever since they eloped. Surinder,a distant relative of Kamleshs,said Kamlesh had told him several times that he feared for his life.

All three men have given statements to the police.

Kamlesh used to drive a tractor in Arvind Sharmas fields when Khushboo and he fell in love. Upon learning of the romance,Sharma sacked Kamlesh,but the couple continued to meet. When the pressure from the upper-caste landlord family became unbearable,Kamlesh took the advice of his friends,all farm labourers in Punjab,and eloped with Khushboo.

A P Singh,in-charge of the Kurtha police stations Manikpur outpost,told The Indian Express: The girls father Arvind Sharma registered a case with us on July 16,2009,saying his daughter was missing,and that he suspected she had been kidnapped by a Yadav boy called Kamlesh.

The officer said the police had failed to find any trace of the couple,and the Bhumihar family might well have taken it upon themselves to continue the hunt. A P Singh said he was yet to receive communication from the Punjab Police about the murders. We can investigate the matter only after a formal complaint is made,or on the request of our Punjab counterparts.

Bihar Police spokesperson,ADGP P K Thakur,too said they were yet to hear from the Punjab Police.