[INTER-CASTE MARRIAGES ARE NOT PROHIBITED BY INDIAN LAW. A SUPREME COURT OF INDIA RULING MEANS ANYONE PREVENTING SUCH MARRIAGES IS COMMITTING A CRIME. BUT DESPITE THIS,“HONOUR KILLINGS” STILL HAPPEN] [Ravi Kant Meana – escaped from Bharatpur. Rajasthan]
I pushed them aside, and ran to the railway track to commit suicide.
[Ravi Kant Meana] They ran after me.
[Ravi Kant Meana] I saw the train arriving...
[Ravi Kant Meana] And I thought, 'I have nothing now'.
[Ravi Kant Meana] My wife was all I had. [Suraj Pardeep – survived in “honor killing” (or - brother of “honor killing” victim]
These are upper-caste people. [Suraj Pardeep]
They decide who will live and who won't. [Suraj Pardeep]
You can say that because that's exactly what's happening to us. [Deepika Bhogal – escaped from v.Lundiana, st.Punjab]
My brother, he was even about to stab the knife into my back. He was about to kill me [Глава совета старейшин]
Some parents kill their children to maintain their reputation. [Глава совета старейшин]
No law, no tradition prescribes that. [Глава совета старейшин]
We cannot support honour killings. [Ravi Kant Meana – escaped from v.Bharatpur, st.Rajasthan]
When it all happened, [Ravi Kant Meana ]
I started collecting information
through friends and on the internet. [Ravi Kant Meana ]
I heard of this organisation that helps people like us.
[ORGANISATION LOVE COMMANDOS HELPS INTER-CASTE COUPLES IN INDIA WHO ARE HIDING FROM THEIR FAMILIES IN FEAR OF ‘HONOUR KILLINGS’]
[Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman] Hello, Love Commandos.
[Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman] [Sanjoy Sachdev]
Yes, they came to our centre. [Sanjoy Sachdev]
You know this, your chief of police sent four messages to our precinct. [Sanjoy Sachdev]
It would appear that you are not an experienced police officer. [Sanjoy Sachdev]
The Supreme Court prohibited the filing of cases in such instances.
[Sanjoy Sachdev] It was a police officer from Haryana,
regarding Sumit and his wife. [Sanjoy Sachdev]
Your relatives filed a case against Sumit under Article 346. [Сумит Бервал – сбежал с женой из д.Хисар, шт.Харьяна]
We're in an inter-caste relationship. [Сумит Бервал]
She's a Brahmin, I'm a Jat. [Сумит Бервал]
Our relatives weren't ready for it, so we didn't tell them. [Сумит Бервал]
All we could do was ask Love Commandos for help. [Сумит Бервал]
We came here immediately, married in a Hindu ceremony,
then legally registered the marriage. [Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman]
It's not a problem. Yet again, you're asking. [Sanjoy Sachdev]
The girl can testify, but why should she
if there's a Supreme Court ban? [Sanjoy Sachdev]
No, today's impossible. [Sanjoy Sachdev]
I don't recommend today, come tomorrow. [Sanjoy Sachdev]
Delhi... [Sanjoy Sachdev]
Go to the nearest police station from the railway station. [Sanjoy Sachdev]
Tell them you need Love Commandos and they will help. [Сумит Бервал – сбежал с женой из д.Хисар, шт.Харьяна]
Without Love Commandos, I'd be afraid.
[Deepika Bhogal] Yes, killing is simple for them.
Graphics 7 safe houses in Delhi and 450 all over India – non disclosed addresses
[Сумит Бервал – сбежал с женой из д.Хисар, шт.Харьяна] We're afraid of our families, they're very angry with us. [Сумит Бервал ]
They're so mad that no one will acknowledge our love. [Сумит Бервал ]
It's very risky, but with time everyone will calm down. [Сумит Бервал ]
There's a small hope that they'll agree. [Жандарм – 1]
Write whatever you want. [Жандарм – 1]
If you're happy with him, write that you are. [Жандарм – 1]
If you're not, write you're not. [Жандарм – 1]
That's enough filming. Stop now.
[LOVE COMMANDOS SHAKING OFF SURVEILLANCE] [caste elders council]
When we smoke the hookah,
the most respected person smokes first, then anyone may. [caste elders council]
I've finished, so if someone wants to say something, go ahead. [caste elders council]
The decision is made in front of everyone here. [caste elders council]
It's not like an official court where cases may drag on for 10-15 years. [caste elders council]
The constitution gives us no rights. [caste elders council]
No law tells us how to punish a person. [caste elders council]
We don't have the right to punish a person for bad actions. [caste elders council]
We can only explain it to them, that's it. [caste elders council]
Society may shun this person, publically. [caste elders council]
No one shall share food or water with them. [caste elders council]
We forbid people to talk to them,
because they damaged our society and set a bad example. [caste elders council]
This is the public's punishment to discipline this person. [A woman punished by her fellow tribesmen for an inter-caste relationship]
Sir, last night they caught me and beat me up. [A woman punished]
They locked me in the cowshed.
Who cut your hair? [A woman punished]
A guy did.
What guy?
BIHAR POLICE RELEASE WOMAN PERSECUTED FOR INTER-CASTE RELATIONSHIP
Who tied your arms and legs? [A woman punished]
They did...
How long have you been doing your dirty business?
Answer properly! [A woman punished]
Sir, it's been 5 or 6 months. [Suraj Pardeep – survived in “honor killing” (or - brother of “honor killing” victim]
It's such pressure. [Suraj Pardeep ] They tell us not to tell anyone. [Suraj Pardeep – survived in “honor killing” (or - brother of “honor killing” victim]
Jess is their eldest daughter.
And this is Pratik? [Suraj Pardeep ]
Yes, he was in his mum's belly, the bullet passed here.
[Suraj Pardeep - brother of “honor killing” victim] [Suraj Pardeep ]
Now, I only have this treasure. [Suraj Pardeep ]
He's the most valuable thing I have now. [Suraj Pardeep – survived in “honor killing” (or - brother of “honor killing” victim]
I had an elder brother, Pradip. [Suraj Pardeep ]
He married a girl from another caste. [Suraj Pardeep ]
They studied together in a college. [Suraj Pardeep ]
Somehow, her family found out,
and all of a sudden they announced that
if she wasn't back home by the morning,
they would exterminate our whole family. [Жандарм-2]
Two officers will stay here to guard you. [Suraj Pardeep – survived in “honor killing” (or - brother of “honor killing” victim]
It was four years since he married. [Suraj Pardeep ]
It happened not long ago. [Suraj Pardeep ]
They forced open the door at around 10 pm and started shooting. [Suraj Pardeep ]
My brother was here. [Suraj Pardeep ]
After he was shot, he called for Mum and Dad. [Suraj Pardeep ]
We rushed out of this room. [Suraj Pardeep ]
As soon as we did, we were shot at. [Suraj Pardeep ]
While that happened, my brother died. [Suraj Pardeep ]
A bullet hit my Mum here and she immediately had a heart attack. [Suraj Pardeep ]
It happened very suddenly, she died on the spot. [Suraj Pardeep ]
A bullet hit Dad here, in the chest. [Suraj Pardeep ]
Next to him was his daughter-in-law, who was also shot. [Suraj Pardeep ]
She was 8 months pregnant. [Suraj Pardeep ]
There was a risk the baby would be born prematurely during surgery. [Suraj Pardeep ]
The doctor told us we could save either the mother or the baby. [Suraj Pardeep ]
We asked to save the mother,
but God was merciful and both were saved. [Sushila Pardeep Kumar – widow of “honor killing” victim]
I just want to forget all about it. [Suraj Pardeep ]
It's painful because it didn't solve the problem. [Suraj Pardeep ]
Things are only getting worse. [Suraj Pardeep ]
Some were caught but their trials haven't begun. [Suraj Pardeep ]
26 charges have been made against them. [Suraj Pardeep ]
It's still dangerous because not all have been caught. [A.P. Singh –lawer, councel of Supreme Court of India]
Those accused of honour killing are not habitual criminals. [A.P. Singh]
Those accused of honour killing are not professional, hardened criminals, no! [A.P. Singh]
They come from very civil society. [A.P. Singh]
They come from very respected society. [A.P. Singh]
They want to secure the character of the family. [A.P. Singh]
Western culture is totally demoralising Indian culture. [A.P. Singh]
That's why cases of premarital relations start. [A.P. Singh]
Inter-caste marriage, love affairs,
and relationships start, then honour killings start. [A.P. Singh]
It's not people responsible for this...
it's Western culture. [Sanjoy Sachdev]
Love Commandos...
Yes, Love Commandos.
Ravi Kant?
How far away is Bhusawar? [Ravi Kant Meana]
Bhusawar is about 55 km away from Jaipur.
Actually, there are three families:
mine, my wife's and a third one,
the one they want to marry her off to.
All three are searching for me. [Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman]
If you went to fetch your wife,
would they kill only you,
or both of you when you got there?
Based on their behaviour so far, they won't even let me get there.
But if I did, I'd have no chance of coming back.
Ravi and Uma The kidnapped wife [Ravi Kant Meana – escaped from Bharatpur. Rajasthan]
My name is Ravi Kant Meana,
and my wife's name is Uma Bharty Sharma. [Ravi Kant Meana]
We are both from Bharatpur, Rajasthan. [Ravi Kant Meana]
We have an inter-caste marriage. [Ravi Kant Meana]
That night, about 15 people came to us in their cars. [Ravi Kant Meana]
My wife told them she wouldn't go home alone,
and that if they were going to take one of us,
then they should take both of us. [Ravi Kant Meana]
The uncles, who came from the city,
made a huge fuss, seized me and started beating me. [Ravi Kant Meana]
They kicked and punched me,
hit me with canes, everything at hand. [Ravi Kant Meana]
They beat me and told my wife's relatives to take her home immediately. [Ravi Kant Meana]
They dragged her along the floor. [Ravi Kant Meana]
She was in pain, and I was screaming with pain all the time,
but no one listened to either of us. [Ravi Kant Meana]
They beat us all over. [Ravi Kant Meana]
They seized my wife and threw her into the car. [Ravi Kant Meana]
Now I can only think of how... [Ravi Kant Meana]
How to ask her for forgiveness. [Ravi Kant Meana]
I couldn't do anything to help her at the time.
[Ravi Kant Meana] I dreamed of loving her,
making her happy and giving her a wonderful life,
but there was nothing I could do.
[UMA TWICE FLED THE HOME WHERE SHE WAS BEATEN, BUT THE POLICERETURNED HER TO HER PARENTS] [Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman]
Her husband, who is her natural guardian now,
cannot enter that area. [Sanjoy Sachdev]
Even before reaching the police
or police station he could be killed. [Sanjoy Sachdev]
Let Uma be escorted under police security to our shelter. [Sanjoy Sachdev]
She made a request, she should've been escorted there and then. [Sanjoy Sachdev]
That's all the police had to do. [Uma’s uncle]
Why are you making a spectacle? Tell me! [Uma’s mother]
You're lying to us, you pressure women! [Uma’s mother]
You'd better not come here, it's dangerous for you. [Sandeep Kumar]
What does she want? Not to live with him anymore? [Uma’s uncle]
She's given a police statement. [Gendarme– 3]
Her statement is in the case file. [Sandeep Kumar]
Did her family beat her?
[Sandeep Kumar] What did she say? What did she claim? [Gendarme– 3]
She claimed that she had been beaten
and said she had ruined their reputation.
[Gendarme– 3] They threatened to kill her if she stayed with her husband. [Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman]
They're playing havoc,
putting her in a police station for 39 hours,
then sending her to the custody of an advocate,
where her family members have complete access.
They threatened her that
if you won't marry the person she was chosen for,
her younger sister will be force-married to him. [Ravi Kant Meana – escaped from Bharatpur. Rajasthan]
Her aunt and other relatives came and assaulted her.
[Ravi Kant Meana – escaped from Bharatpur. Rajasthan] If the court has banned violence, why is it happening?
[Ravi Kant Meana – escaped from Bharatpur. Rajasthan] How can such things happen when there are laws and legislation? [Uma’s mother]
Leave and don't come back! It's not safe for you! [Uma’s uncle]
Why are you filming? It's shameful! [Anil Kumar Tank I.P.S. – Superintendent of Police Distt.Bharatpur-321001 (Rajasthan)]
Now the position is that she said before the honourable court
that she wanted to stay with her family,
so she has been released and is still staying in her family. [Sanjoy Sachdev]
Even the committee says the marriage was registered, and a senior policeman confirms this. [Anil Kumar Tank I.P.S. – Superintendent of Police Distt.Bharatpur-321001 (Rajasthan)]
This boy claims that she has been married with him,
but we don't find any evidence...
[Anil Kumar Tank I.P.S. – Superintendent of Police, Bharatpur (Rajasthan)]
that they are married.
[Anil Kumar Tank] They were at the same place, studying at the same time...
but when did they get married?
[Anil Kumar Tank ] Nothing is there to find out what is the grounds of their marriage.
[Anil Kumar Tank ] He is a free man. [Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman]
The police report issued by the police officer
of the police station in Bhusawar
clearly says that both of them got married at Arya Samaj, Gaziabad.
evidence of which is attached at serial number 20, 21, and 22 along with the report.
[Sanjoy Sachdev ] This is the police report, this is not my report.
[Sanjoy Sachdev ] How can he be ignorant about it?
[Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman]
[Sanjoy Sachdev ] It is shocking.
[Sandeep Kumar – Indian journalist] Officer, the Rajasthan local government web portal
states she is married, as does your statement.
[Anil Kumar Tank I.P.S. – Superintendent of Police Distt.Bharatpur-321001 (Rajasthan)] Listen, she lives with her parents now.
[Anil Kumar Tank I.P.S. – Superintendent of Police Distt.Bharatpur-321001 (Rajasthan)] She decides what to do, what matters is she's safe.
[Sandeep Kumar – Indian journalist] In the village, we felt that she was
very frightened and didn't feel safe.
[Anil Kumar Tank I.P.S. – Superintendent of Police Distt.Bharatpur-321001 (Rajasthan)] It's very dangerous to protect girls in cases like this. [Anil Kumar Tank]
If she feels that way, why didn't she make another statement? [Anil Kumar Tank]
If she'd said clearly, 'I want to leave,'
do you think the police would refuse to help? [Anil Kumar Tank]
Do you think it helps to make an issue of this small case?
[Ravi Kant Meana – escaped from Bharatpur. Rajasthan] You see what her condition is....
Ravi, no, no. [Ravi Kant Meana]
They are beating her, torturing her, harassing her,
by all the means that they can do, that they can hurt her. [Ravi Kant Meana]
I am feeling so helpless. [Ravi Kant Meana]
And she is facing all that because as you said she's a woman. [Ravi Kant Meana]
In India there is no wish...
and no other things that help a woman. [Ravi Kant Meana]
This scarf is her scarf. [Ravi Kant Meana]
Even for a second... [Ravi Kant Meana]
I don't take this off. [Ravi Kant Meana]
I believe that someday she will return and [Ravi Kant Meana]
I will give it to her, and say that... [Ravi Kant Meana]
I kept this very safe... [Guy – 1]
Ravil! Take it!
Go! [Sanjoy Sachdev]
Will you eat it or not? [Deepika Bhogal – escaped from v.Lundiana, st.Punjab ]
My Dad always used to say, [Deepika Bhogal]
'You're allowed all,
'even a love marriage if he's upper-caste because we're the same. [Deepika Bhogal]
'You're not allowed to marry anyone in the lower caste.' [Deepika Bhogal]
That's why I wasn't allowed to marry.
Graphics Kapil and Deepika I won’t be back [Deepika Bhogal – escaped from v.Lundiana, st.Punjab]
Several times they called Baba because they know how I'm
having the shelter. They're asking me to come back home. [Deepika Bhogal]
Because they want to show off to society that we're marrying
a daughter by our own. [Deepika Bhogal] I used to think that education changes
the mindset of people. [Deepika Bhogal] But when my parents did this to me, now
[Deepika Bhogal – escaped from v.Lundiana, st.Punjab]
I don't think the same. I was beaten by them very brutally. [Deepika Bhogal] My father,
he just holded my head and he just hit me into the wall and
and he just... he was hitting me very badly, he gave so much
punches into my stomach. [Deepika Bhogal] And even my father, he was asking
me to marry some other guy at the gun point. [Deepika Bhogal] He was like 'Today
I'm going to buy the gun and if you'll not marry where I'm
asking you, then I'll shoot you. [Deepika Bhogal] I'll shoot both of you.'
[Deepika Bhogal – escaped from v.Lundiana, st.Punjab ] Obviously, if I would have married to someone else, I wouldn't
have loved him for the whole life. I would have sacrificed my life.
Haryana traditional Hindu wedding [Groom – 1]
Turn it off, I'm stressed!
[Groom – 2] It starts at 12 or 1 o'clock. It'll take one or two hours.
[Woman – 1] - That's a problem. [Gerl ] - Daddy, brush mine, too!
[Groom – 1] Bring my jacket.
[Woman – 2] I'll take care of it all.
[Sandeep Kumar – Indian journalist] Actually in Indian tradition it's completely very different
because most of the parts of India, the boys they didn't
know earlier to girl.
THESE SISTERS’ PARENTS CHOSE GROOMS FROM THE SAME FAMILY FOR THEM
[Sandeep Kumar – Indian journalist] My parents have searched for a girl for me. I don't know earlier
before anything. Just suddenly my parents have shown me my wife
photographs and he say me this is the girl for you.
[Sandeep Kumar] Are you satisfied or not? So firstly I met my wife in a restaurant
and we discussed everything and we.. everything is confirmed
then we can marriage.
[Man – 1] - I already paid twice for that! [Woman – 3] - It's all for the future wife! [Man – 1]
So how much do we owe?
[Woman – 3] [Man – 1] - Give her 2,100. [Man – 1]
Good, we've paid. Now let's hear it for us!
[Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman] Again, there are forced marriages.
[Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman] All arranged marriages...
are generally, or in the majority, forced marriages.
[Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman] India says at the UN, [Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman] 'We won't allow child marriage or forced ones.'
[Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman] Why doesn't it ban marriages by arrangement?
‘DAKHEI’, THE BRIDE’S DOWRY, THE MAIN REASON FOR THE MURDER OF WOMEN IN INDIA
‘DAKHEI’ HAS BEEN BANNED SINCE 1961, BUT EVERY YEAR, 5 TO 7 THOUSAND INDIAN DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW ARE KILLED IN ITS NAME
[song] Long live queen mother! Long live queen mother!
[Sandeep Kumar doused with acid] How did it happen?
[Sandeep Kumar] An acid attack. [Sandeep Kumar] It was a one-sided love, unrequited love.
[Sandeep Kumar] 'If you're not mine, you won't be anyone's.'
[Sandeep Kumar] Did you love somebody else?
[Sandeep Kumar] I didn't love anybody.
[Sandeep Kumar] But I want to say that this shouldn't happen to any girl.
[Sandeep Kumar] I can't cry, I'm laughing all the time. [Seller]
Laugh, it's the right thing to do.
Gopal and Radhika A secret wedding
[Sumit] - Come in. [Gopal] - Hello.
[Gopal]My name's Gopal Singh.
[Sumit] - And she's Radhika? [Gopal] - Yes, Radhika.
[Gopal] Here's our kitchen. We have all the essentials.
[Gopal] This is Ravi Kant, who'll take care of you.
There's another room on this side.
Half the couples are here, the rest, there.
This is the bathroom.
Half sleep here, the other half, there.
It's all legal and free. We've been here 10 or 11 days already.
[Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman] There isn't even a single day with no threat.
[Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman] If a day comes that we feel no one is threatening,
we'll think we have become immune to threats and all that…
[Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman] Vishva Hindu Parishad fundamentalists
demonstrated at the police station here.
[Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman] They wanted us kicked out.
[Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman] We thank the Delhi police for their support.
[Sh.Ashwin Shenvi - IPS, Sp Sonopat] We have set up safe houses,
where couples who feel they would be
threatened by their families can stay.
[Sh.Ashwin Shenvi - IPS, Sp Sonopat] When couples leave the safe houses then there's always an issue that
they would threaten their life after they go to the village.
[Sh.Ashwin Shenvi - IPS, Sp Sonopat] So we have directions passed on to subordinate police officials,
law-enforcement agencies, that they should take stern steps
to ensure the safety and security of the couple.
[Sanjoy Sachdev – “Love Commandos” Chairman] Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh...
but the conditions there are so alarming that many times
the state police has sought our help to shelter couples.
[Dipica] When traditionally we get married by our families,
the girl writes the name of her husband secretly somewhere on her hand,
and when, the next day, she goes to her husband's house,
then her husband has to find that name, where it is written.
Gopal and Radhika are getting married today without telling their parents
[Bramin] Come in, sit down.
[Commandos – 1] Today's the last day for smiles. [Commandos – 1] Who will laugh after the wedding?
[Commandos – 1] Have you stopped laughing?
[Commandos – 2] The girl will laugh.
[Commandos – 1] No, they'll both laugh afterwards, today's just the beginning.
[Commandos – 1] She'll soon be asking,
[Commandos – 1] 'Why are you smiling like that? [Commandos – 1] Who did you see today?'
[prayer] <end subtitles>