Men in India sentenced to death for 1991 ‘honour killings’

Summary of story from BBCNews, November 16, 2011

Eight men have been sentenced to death and 20 others have been given life imprisonment for their participation in three ‘honour killings’ that took place in India in 1991.

The men were found guilty of murdering a boy and a higher caste girl who had eloped together, as well as the boy’s cousin.

All three were hanged and had their genitals set on fire, the court, in the Indian state Uttar Pradesh, heard.

India’s Supreme Court has ordered states to stamp out honour killings, saying people found guilty of such crimes should face execution.

A recent study suggests that hundreds of people are killed each year for falling in love or marrying outside their caste or against family wishes.

Honour crimes are often endorsed by village-based caste councils.

The court heard today how the couple, Vijander, of the Dalit caste, and his girlfriend, Roshni, of the higher-caste Jaat, eloped from the village of Mehrana, near the border with Haryana state.

The couple returned to the village a few days later, expecting any anger to have passed, but were instead greeted with with a decree for their deaths from the village elders. They also sentenced Vijander’s cousin Ram Kisham, who helped them elope.

The case came to light when the boys’ parents lodged a case against the council for ordering the killings.