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He is survived by his pregnant wife, Mahwish, 24, and 18-month-old daughter.
“My family did this. They have been threatening to do this since 2010, when we eloped. They said he was from a lower section of society and I could not marry him. What society orders someone’s death?” said Mahwish.
After eloping in October 2010, the couple fled from their village of Adholi to Delhi, where they were provided shelter by an organisation called Love Commandos.
Sanjoy Sachdev, chairperson of Love Commandos, said he helped them appear on Satyamev Jayate. “They were a testament to the work we do, and so we forwarded their names to the show,” he said.
About four months back, the couple returned from Delhi to settle down in Badhgarhi, about three kilometres from Adholi.
“We knew something was wrong, because there were some people from Mahwish’s family who were waiting by the road in front of our village. We did not want trouble so we went to the police,” said Hakim’s brother, Yusuf, 36.
Acting on their plea, the police detained one Haroon for questioning and summoned Hakim and his brother to the police station.
“He and Yusuf identified Haroon and returned home. My husband had to go and get some medicines for me since I am due to give birth any day now. Five minutes after he left, a boy came running to the village and screamed that five men had grabbed Hakim,” said Mahwish.
According to Yusuf, when he reached the main road, Hakim was lying in a pool of blood. “We saw men running away but could not chase them since we had to help Hakim. We rushed him to a hospital, but it was too late,” said Yusuf.
In his FIR, Yusuf has named Salman Iqbal, Gullu, Malik, Asif and Sarvar. The latter two are Mahwish’s relatives. “Mahwish’s family, the landlords of our village of Adholi, were always against the marriage. They had even issued a fatwa for their deaths,” alleged Yusuf.
But the police have denied charges of an honour killing. “So far, we believe it was a personal enmity between Hakim and Salman Iqbal. Investigations show that Hakim had misbehaved with Salman’s mother on Saturday, after which Salman shot Hakim,” said SSP Gulab Singh.
“This was an issue between two people from the same village, between Salman and Hakim. The couple have been living here for four months without any such incident,” he said, adding that while Asif has been arrested, the others would soon be nabbed.
“Salman Iqbal and two others had threatened my husband’s cousin last year, seeking our whereabouts. We had filed a case against him. On November 24, Salman warned my husband to take back the case or face death,” alleged Mahwish.
Since Sunday night, Mahwish has been on TV shows, speaking to the media. “She has collapsed from exhaustion a few times but refuses to quit. She wants justice and will not stop for anything,” said Yusuf.
Mahwish said the police had promised them protection. “That is why we decided to come back to the village. We had even applied for police protection but none was given. They have given us guards now, but it is too late,” she said. Mahwish, wife of Abdul Hakim, who killed in an alledged honour killing at village Badhgarhi in Bulandshehar
For once I agree to Robert Vadhera , THIS IS INDEED BANANA REPUBLIC. Nothing will happen in this case too because this all about votes. God save my beloved country.
Its studpidity decision to stay in the village before their eyes when they know them very well. Not the whole time the police can give protection it is practically not feasible. They should have waited till the Khak panchayats is fully eliminated / the person now have to do it.
Khap Panchayat has struck and there is uproar, no candle light procession, no National women human rights excited extempore and no afce book post going viral. That's the khop of Khap Panchayat.
The whole incident is a huge tragedy but the BIGGEST tragedy is their faith in the police - who are trying to cover up even now - after a life has been lost! Shame ! Shame !
wow, we really do live in stone age, and still people then would have been more civil than this! what do politicians defending these lawless panchayats have to say about this ? same with police and the people ?
