Star-crossed: Lovers jump off a bridge to commit suicide

Villagers rescue them from Jhelum River, hand them over to police.

ABBOTTABAD: Two lovers unable to get married attempted to kill themselves in Bakot village by jumping into a river, said police on Wednesday.

SHO Khalid Khan told journalists that villagers rescued the couple and handed them over to the police.

According to Khan, 16-year-old Murad*, a resident of Nari Hotar village, and 21-year-old Sumera*, a resident of the same village, fell in love a few years ago. However, when Murad approached the girl’s family for her hand in marriage, her family rejected his proposal and married her off to a man in the neighbouring village, three months ago.

Khan added the lovers did not sever ties and continued to meet each other secretly. However, their families found out about their meetings and raised objections after which the lovers decided to commit suicide together.

Quoting eyewitnesses, SHO Khan said on Tuesday afternoon, Murad and Sumera arrived at Kohala Bridge and jumped in Jehlum River.

Villagers spotted the drowning couple and began rescue efforts. They managed to pull the two out of the river within a few minutes.

The couple was then brought to the local police station where they admitted that they wanted to die together because they could not live together.

The SHO added the couple sustained minor injuries.

A criminal case has been registered against the two under Section 325/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

*Names have been changed to protect identities 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2014.