Man shot dead in Bihar for marrying niece

A man in his mid-20s was shot dead in Bhagalpur after the local panchayat ordered him to be killed for marrying his niece.

The victim, Himanshu Yadav of Gaurichauki village, used to conduct tuition classes for Soni of the same village. Both developed love for each other and around eight months ago they fled from home and tied the nuptial knot.

When the couple returned to Bhagalpur last month, Soni's father Parmanand Yadav lodged a case of 

kidnapping against Himanshu, who was also a distant kin of Soni. Himanshu was arrested.

The girl, when produced before the local court, said she was not a minor and had married Himanshu on her own after which the court released Himanshu. 

"Parmanand then moved the local



panchayat for justice. A panchayat meeting later rebuked Himanshu's mother for marrying her son with a blood relative," said a source.

"How could he marry his niece?" the source quoted panchayat members asking Himanshu's mother.

When the boy's father did not turn up for the meeting held, the girl's family demanded stern action against the accused.

"The panchayat will continue the meeting till the boy is killed," the membersas believed to have said.

An hour later, Himanshu was shot dead.

Bhagalpur senior police officer Manoj Kumar ordered the arrest of the assailants. "Prakash Yadav and Raja Yadav have been arrested after an FIR was registered against 21 people at the Kajraili Police station," said the source.