Patna: 18-year-old who survived honour killing bid says dad fired at her

PATNA: An 18-year-old girl Sweta Kumari (name changed), who survived a murderous attempt on her life by her father, uncle and grandfather on Monday for eloping and marrying a man of her choice, is being guarded round the clock by policemen wielding AK-47 assault rifles at

the Patna Medical College and Hospital

.


Shweta sustained a gunshot injury on her left arm. A woman cop, Zamila Khatoon (55), who was escorting her is also admitted at the PMCH for splinter injuries, which she suffered while trying to save Sweta. Sweta’s

husband Shishupal Kumar

(18) is also undergoing treatment at another ward in PMCH.

The couple had eloped in October last year after which Sweta’s family had lodged a kidnapping case with Salimpur police station in Patna district against

Satyendra

, Shishupal and others.

At the hospital, Zamila told TOI on Wednesday that two bike-borne men intercepted their vehicle while returning from court where Sweta deposed that she wanted to live with her husband and his family.

“The pillion rider suddenly came towards us and inserted a pistol from the rear right window which was kept open as Sweta was vomiting due to illness,” she said.

“I made Sweta bend as soon as the assailant fired targeting her chest. The bullet missed and hit her in the arms while I received splinter injuries. The killer then aimed a pistol at my head, but I ducked,” he said.

Zamila said they survived the atack because the driver did not stop the vehicle. “He drove away and we reached the Gai ghat women’s home from where we went to PMCH with reinforcement for treatment,” she added.

Shweta, surrounded by two policemen armed with assault rifles, a woman constable and a home guard, told this newspaper that her father Chandan Yadav had fire at her.

“He threatened our driver to stop the car. He fired twice at us. My grandfather

Surendra Yadav

had also reached on another bike and fired a third bullet but our driver managed to drive away,” she said.

Sweta, who studied till Class-VIII, said she eloped with Shishupal because her parents were planning to kill her. “I had asked my family to allow me to marry Shishupal but they refused. They used to thrash me. After eloping, we got married at a temple in Samastipur and appeared before a court on October 24. I had refused to go with my parents after which the court sent me to a remand home,” she said.

Sweta said on Monday she deposed in favour of her husband and his family after which the court allowed her to go to their residence. “My husband and his father were travelling behind us on Monday,” he said.

Shishupal, who cleared his Class-XII this year, said he now fears for his life alleging that Sweta’s family members would attack him again.

“Shweta’s uncle Dina Yadav and father intercepted us on one bike while her grandfather and cousin Deokaran Yadav on another. Dina shot my father sitting behind me. He fell after which I tried to pick him up when Chandan shot me too,” Shishupl said.

“I fled but Sweta’s father chased me. After failing to catch me, they fired multiple rounds killing my father at the spot,” he added.

Patna SSP Upendra Kumar Sharma said the case was a clear attempt of honour killing as the girl had married against the family’s wish. “There’s no other reason for attempting to kill her. All her family members including father, uncle and others are evading arrest and raids are on to nab them,” he added.