GUWAHATI: A 23-year-old youth in Koilamari Balijan area in Lakhimpur District of Assam, Biki Bishal was found dead hanging by a tree on September 12. Reports say that he allegedly eloped with his girlfriend and refused to convert to her religion as her family members demanded that he do so in order to get married to her.
The girl’s family allegedly got hostile with the boy’s family and had accused the boy of stripping her off her honour by eloping with her. They then demanded that the boy convert to her religion so that they can get married.
A family member of the deceased told G Plus over phone that the body was found in a field by a cattle farmer on Monday, September 12. Locals say that the lovers eloped on September 3 and then on September 6, both families confronted for a discussion on the matter at the boy’s home, where the duo were living together. Local police have told G Plus that the boy had no parents and was living with his sister.
“After the discussion, it was decided that the girl be taken back by her family as she was a student and the couple can reconsider terms of their marriage at a later point in time. However, the girl’s family was not satisfied with the outcome of the discussion. They wanted that the boy pay the price for eloping with the girl and compromising her honour by converting to her religion. They told the boy’s family that they have no contention with the boy’s age but he needs to convert in order to marry her,” said a relative.
When the boy’s family refused, the girl’s family allegedly took the girl with them. Later, according to the boy’s family, a mob surrounded the house, vandalised it and threatened the boy with dire consequences.
Two days later, Biki Bishal’s body was found hanging by a tree.
“Two of our family members were injured when the mob vandalized our house. The mob got physically abusive with the family and threatened us that the boy will have to pay the price for compromising the girl’s honour by eloping with her, unless he converts to her religion and marries her,” said the boy’s relative.
He goes on to narrate, “On September 11, locals could not find the boy and later a search party found him at his relative’s house. He was brought back home but he went out to attend a call and never returned. His body was found the next morning.”
Local police officials say that as per initial investigation, it appears that Biki Bishal committed suicide even though the circumstances of his death were suspicious and the cause of death is being investigated.
Local police officials told G Plus, “The boy’s family is accusing local religious groups of killing Biki Bishal. There is no evidence yet to suggest he was mob-lynched. He just disappeared from his home around 7:30 PM on September 12. Three people, the girl’s father and his two brothers have been arrested and presented before the court.
They are being put on a 7-day remand. Investigations are still ongoing. We are still trying to determine the cause of death and pinpoint on the culprits.”
