Murder, suicide case could be honour killing: Police

GHAZIABAD - The case of a man in Ghaziabad who murdered his uncle’s daughter and then committed suicide after being sacked from his job by the girl’s father, could be a honour killing, police Monday said.

Ishtiaq, 25, allegedly barged into his maternal uncle Mohammad Akhtar’s house in Dhulana area with a pistol Saturday and shot dead Shabnam, 14.

He had reportedly gone there to request his uncle to take him back in his welding shop where he worked for the last few years but was asked to leave for allegedly stealing merchandise, Superintendent of Police (Rural) M.M. Baig said.

Ishtiaq was said to have shot himself in the temple as he was chased by villagers while he was fleeing the spot and died instantly.

However, the autopsy report revealed that Ishtiaq was shot point blank at the back of his skull and the bullet exited via the forehead.

In the meantime, his father lodged a complaint with police alleging his son was killed for the sake of honour. He accused Shabnam’s father, her two uncles and brother-in-law of first shooting Shabnam dead, then killing Ishtiaq and drawing up the story of Ishtiaq killing Shabnam and then committing suicide. The Dhaulana police have registered a case against the four.

“We have converted the case accordingly. The girl’s father and his two brothers in addition to girl’s brother-in-law were found involved in the double murder. In addition to the complaint, the autopsy report supports the theory,” Baig said.

All the four are absconding and police are trying to arrest them, he added.