RAJKOT: The mysterious disappearance of a young couple involved in a romantic relationship has turned out to be a brutal honour killing, allegedly orchestrated by the 19-year-old woman’s father, reportedly because he was against their marriage.On Friday night, police retrieved the decomposed bodies of Navin Rabari (24) and Nathi alias Sonu Rabari from a well near Khambhla village of Nakhatrana taluka, about 40 days after they went missing on Feb 3.Police arrested Sonu’s father, Vanka alias Raja Rabari and his nephew, Soma alias Parbat Rabai, for the murder. Her mother, Hima, has also been booked.The investigation revealed that Vanka and Soma conspired to kill the couple, ostensibly because they felt it would cause them to be dishonoured in their community.On Feb 3, Navin went missing after going to meet Sonu. When he did not return, his family began a search. They contacted Sonu’s father, who said his daughter was not home and said the couple might return in a few days. While searching for Navin, his family found his two-wheeler parked at a cricket ground in Kotda village. After this, Navin’s brother, Rahul, filed a missing person’s report at Nakhatrana police station on Feb 5.Rahul said Vanka and his family were opposed to their relationship, leading police to suspect honour killingVikas Sunda, DSP Kutch (West), said, “Suspecting honour killing, we continued monitoring the girl’s family. Based on human intelligence and interrogation of the suspect, we learned that the bodies had been disposed of in a well.”On Friday, police teams, fire brigade personnel and forensic specialists retrieved the corpses. Vanka and his accomplice has allegedly strangled Navin and Sonu and dumped the bodies into the well to destroy evidence.Despite the severe decomposition, Rahul identified Navin from the clothes. The second body was later confirmed to be Sonu’s.How the crime unfoldedNavin and Sonu, were in a relationship for two years. They met on Feb 3. Their families were aware of the liaison. When Sonu did not return home until late evening, Vanka called but she said she wouldn’t come back and insisted on marrying Navin.Soon after, Vanka and Soma went to the spot and tried to dissuade the couple from marrying. Vanka also called his wife and minor son to help convince them. The discussion turned violent and Soma strangled Sonu, while Vanka throttled Navin, killing both of them on the spot.Police said Vanka then asked his wife and son to leave. He and Soma allegedly disposed of the bodies in the well. Police suspect the bodies were taken to the well on a motorcycle, one after the other.Family tried to mislead copsVanka took the couple’s mobile phones nearly 20km away, to a forested area. There, he set one phone on fire and destroyed the other. On Feb 7, they lodged a missing person’s report for Sonu and appeared to cooperate with the probe. They met investigators several times, requesting help in finding Sonu, apparently to divert suspicion. Opposition to marriageAccording to police, the opposition to the relationship was linked to customs within the community. Investigators said that due to there being less girls than boys, some families follow a barter marriage arrangement, where a woman’s brother marries the sister of her husband. Sonu had two brothers, while Navin did not have a sister. Police also said Navin was unemployed. The family were bitterly opposed to the union.
