Pyaar Ka Postmortem-6: The story of the couple who got off the bus, brutally murdered, tied their hands and feet, stuffed the corpse in a sack and threw it in the canal

On June 15, 2007, two people were deboarded from a moving bus in Haryana. After that both were brutally murdered. Then tied the hands and feet, filled the dead body in a sack and threw it in the canal. The body found 9 days later was identified by the girl’s anklet and the boy’s shirt. The only fault of both was that they had chosen the companion of their choice in their own gotra. The whole country was shocked by this matter. For the first time in history, the court took action against the Khap Panchayat.

In Pyaar Ka Postmortem Series-6 today is the story of Manoj Banwala and Babli Banwala of Korora village in Kaithal district of Haryana, who got death in return for love.

The entire Karora village belongs to the people of Banwala Jat community. Manoj was a bit shy but friendly. Babli was a bit bubbly and playful. Manoj used to run a mechanic shop in the village. This shop was the only source of income in his family, on which the whole family was dependent. Babli was also from this village. Manoj and Babli were childhood friends. Play, study and grow together. It was in the year 2005 that both of them started liking each other. This feeling was a bit different from childhood friendship and village acquaintance. Both fell in love.

Ishq Nahi Aasan… Mother explained many times
Manoj’s mother Chandrapati told that both Manoj and Babli used to talk on the phone for hours. If ever she reached the room, Manoj would hang up the phone and go out. Mother explained many times that Babli and her gotra are one and the same. Because of this the villagers would never agree to the marriage, but Manoj ignored his mother’s words. Chandrapati talked to Babli’s mother to stop and convince both of them, but to no avail.

Wedding photo of Manoj Banwala and Babli Banwala. After about one and a half months of marriage, both were brutally killed.

Both knew the result, yet got married
Manoj and Babli knew that both belonged to the same gotra. The fraternity will get angry. Nevertheless, both of them decided to marry secretly. Manoj had his 12th exam on April 5, 2007. That day the mother saw him alive for the last time. Mother Chandrapati thought that he was going to give the exam, but Manoj’s planning was different. Manoj and Babli ran away from the house. On April 7, 2007, both of them got married in Chandigarh.

Babli’s family members became furious as soon as they got the news of the marriage. They reached the Khap Panchayat seeking help. A one-sided panchayat was called in the chaos. The panchayat gave a decree to expel Manoj’s family from the society. Anyone who helps Manoj’s family or is related to him will have to pay a fine of Rs 25,000, it has also been announced. On this Babli’s family did not sit still.

Court upholds marriage
Babli’s family filed a case against Manoj on April 26 for kidnapping their daughter. Every day the police and panchayat people would come to Manoj’s house to arrest him. Threatening his mother and sister. Frustrated, Manoj’s sister Seema Banwala got Manoj’s anticipatory bail. The judge ordered Manoj and Babli to appear in the court and record their statements. On June 15, both of them reached Kaithal court and recorded their statements. The court declared the marriage of Manoj-Babli valid. Along with this, both were ordered to be given police protection.

Manoj’s mother Chandrapati shows the picture of her son and daughter-in-law. After the death of the son-in-law, the villagers boycotted Chandrapati and his daughters.

…’Mother, we will keep calling you’
After the court’s order to give police protection, 5 policemen left for Chandigarh with Manoj and Babli. According to Manoj’s sister Seema, Babli’s family members were chasing both of them. The policemen left both of them alone at Pipli bus stop. Manoj suspected that some conspiracy was going on against him. Manoj got down from the Chandigarh bus with Babli. Called my house from PCO. Said to the mother, ‘Babli’s housemates are following us. The policemen left us and left. So we got off the Chandigarh bus and are now going to Delhi. Maa we will keep calling you. Babli asked her mother-in-law, will she accept him? In response, Chandrapati said ‘yes’.

tortured both
This was Chandrapati’s last conversation with his son and daughter-in-law. After this Manoj and Babli sat in the bus going to Delhi. Babli’s family members stopped the bus near Jatan village, just 20 km from Pipli. Beating Manoj and Babli, he got down from the bus. Then he was taken back to the village after sitting in the car. Babli’s brother beat his sister a lot earlier. Then two people held his hands and feet. One poured poison in his mouth. Manoj was also brutally beaten up. Tied to the car and dragged. Then he was put to death by strangulation. Not only this, the hands and feet of both of them should be tied after death. Filled the sack and threw it in a nearby canal. According to reports, the Khap Panchayat had given the order to kill Manoj-Babli.

dead bodies found 9 days after murder
On June 21, 2007, Manoj’s family lodged an FIR for the murder of both of them. Police started investigation. On June 23, 9 days after the murder, the bodies of both were found, which were in very bad condition. The bodies were identified by Babli’s payal and Manoj’s shirt.

In the fifth episode of Satyamev Jayate Season 1, actor Aamir Khan called Manoj’s mother Chandrapati and sister Seema Banwala. Picture of the same event.

Boycott like this… no one took part in the mourning
The reason for the boycott was that the villagers, acquaintances and relatives cut off all the dealings and conversations with Manoj’s family. Private vehicles going from village to city stopped sitting. The fear of the Khap was such that Manoj’s mother and sisters kept crying alone, but no one person came to wipe their tears, console them. In such a big village, no one walked four steps with the meaning. To take away the ashes, the sister went to the potter to collect the urn, but the potter also flatly refused to give the urn.

Manoj’s mother, sister and their sympathizers received threats
Manoj’s sister said, ‘As soon as the testimony started in the court, people started coming to my house. First, it was said to give the amount demanded to withdraw the case. When things didn’t work out, he was threatened with death. Babli’s brother slapped me in front of the police in court. In the police academy, a contract was given to get me killed. Manoj’s mother and sister were supported by social worker Jagmati Sangwan. He was also pressurized to withdraw the case. They also received death threats.

Manoj’s mother Chandrapati and sister Seema Banwala with actor Aamir Khan during the fifth episode of Satyamev Jayate Season 1.

41 witnesses, 50 hearings then got justice in 33 months
Manoj-Babli’s murder case went on for 33 months in Karnal District Court. More than 50 hearings were held, in which 41 people testified. The court then delivered the verdict on March 29, 2010. Babli’s brother Suresh, uncle Rajendra and Baru Ram, cousin Satish, Gurudev were sentenced to death. Babli’s Baba and Khap Panchayat leader Ganga Raj were sentenced to life imprisonment and Mandeep Singh, the driver involved in kidnapping the couple, was sentenced to 7 years. Along with this, Manoj’s mother Chandrapati was ordered to give one lakh rupees as compensation. Babli’s grandfather Ganga was also fined Rs 16 thousand and the remaining 6 other culprits Rs 6-6 thousand. Despite the order, action was also taken against 6 policemen who left Manoj and Babli alone.

Chandrapati admiring the picture of his son Manoj and daughter-in-law Babli.

Hearing in High Court and Supreme Court also
Babli’s family challenged this decision in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. On March 11, 2011, the High Court commuted the death sentence of four convicts, including Babli’s brother Suresh, to life imprisonment. Babli’s grandfather Ganga Raj and another accused Satish were acquitted. Driver Mandeep’s sentence of seven years was upheld. Manoj’s family challenged this decision in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court held that it was illegal for a Khap Panchayat to stop two adults from marrying of their own free will. It also upheld the decision of the High Court. However, the compensation amount received by Manoj’s mother was increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 6 lakh.

Action taken against Khap Panchayat
This was the first such case in the history of the country, where the court had taken action against the Khap Panchayat. This was the first time the death penalty was awarded in the honor killing case. Films like ‘Khap’, ‘NH-10’ and ‘Guddu Rangeela’ were also made in Bollywood on this case.