‘My mother whispered that I will be killed next’
MEET NAGAR MURDER Rukaiya says she was on good terms with her brother, father says he has legally severed ties with her and she isn’t welcome back home
NEWDELHI: Two days after her husband was shot dead at a Delhi coaching centre, allegedly by her younger brother who opposed their marriage, 19-year-old Rukaiya Khatoon has been living in fear. Rukaiya has not ventured out of her husband’s home in Ghaziabad .
“I encountered my mother at the police station on Sunday, the first time since I eloped with Atif. She whispered to me that I too would be killed soon. I know my family will try to carry out the threat,” alleged Rukaiya.
She said she has found support in her in-laws. “Atif’s parents have promised to keep me with them. My parents will never take me back and I don’t want to go back either,” said Rukaiya.
Her father, Mohammad Rahisuddin, said his daughter was not welcome into his family anymore. “She brought disrepute to my family. After she eloped, I had legally cut off her ties with my family,” said Rahisuddin, who owns a mobile repair shop.
“Not only does Atif belong to a different caste, he also has a criminal background. I had nothing to do with them anymore, so why would I threaten them,” said Rahisuddin. But RP Meena, additional deputy commissioner of police (north-east), said no criminal record of Atif had surfaced.
Rukaiya was just 15 years old when she fell in love with Mohammad Atif, then a 22-yearold employee at a billboard firm. “We were both Muslims, but belonged to different castes. I knew my parents would oppose our relationship,” said Rukaiya.
Her fear stemmed from an alleged similar incident almost 18 years ago. “My father and uncle had killed my cousin for marrying against the family’s wishes. My father was arrested but was released on bail,” she alleged.
However, her father denied he was involved in any crime. He refused to say if his niece had even died, claiming that he had cut all ties with his brother. Police said they had no information about this alleged murder.
Rukaiya and Atif eloped last April and were living in Ghaziabad, not far from her parents’ home. “We were excited about celebrating our first wedding anniversary. I was hoping that a year was enough time for my parents to forget the past,” said Rukaiya. Though her parents had allegedly been threatening her, it He offers the couple soft drinks and snacks and talks to them. As soon as the couple relax at the coaching centre, Akram pulls out a pistol from his bag and shoots his brother-in-law, Mohammad Atif, 26, in the forehead. was the behaviour of her 18-yearold brother, Mohammad Akram, that gave her hope. “Akram never threatened us. He always spoke sweetly to me and would keep requesting me to visit home,” said Rukaiya.
Her husband had warned against visiting her home so soon. “Atif would say it was dangerous,” said Rukaiya. But the couple had been meeting Akram at his coaching centre in Meet Nagar. But they took necessary precautions, always asking Atif’s brother to accompany them.
When the couple visited Akram at the same coaching cen- Rukaiya slaps her brother for the act. Akram then tries to blame her for the murder, but his friend sticks to the truth. Akram flees from the spot. tre on Sunday , Akram again welcomed them warmly. “He brought soft drinks and snacks for us. He did not bring up our marriage. I believed it was a sign of an improving relationship,” said Rukaiya. But within minutes, Akram allegedly pulled out a pistol, abused Atif for marrying his sister and shot him.
An investigator said Akram had been trying to get hold of a weapon for a while. “He had been meeting the couple only to ensure they would be there when he landed the pistol,” said the investigator.police said they have recovered the pistol.