In a small, unpainted two-room home in Varvada village in Mehsana, a few women try to console Sushilaben Solanki.
Earlier this week, her son, Haresh, and she had gone to Varmor village in Ahmedabad to bring his wife back home. However, she came back with her son’s corpse.
“I don’t want compensation from the government. It will not bring my dead son back to life,” says Sushilaben. “For people like us, the fight for justice is next to impossible. We need all the help we can find. I want the guilty punished. I want justice.”
Haresh was brutally hacked to death by his pregnant wife Urmila’s relatives in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad.
Urmila’s family was opposed to the two’s relationship, even eight months after they had eloped and married in a local court.
Why? Because Haresh was a Dalit while Urmila was of the upper-caste Darbar community.
25-year-old Haresh, accompanied by a police escort, had gone to visit his wife’s family when they were attacked. Haresh was killed on the spot and Urmila has been missing since. Thus far, three people have been arrested.
Facebook Brought Haresh and Urmila Together
A group of men congregated outside Haresh’s home when the news spread. Among them, sat Sunil Solanki, Haresh’s cousin. He told The Quint that he “didn’t just lose a brother, he lost his closest friend.”
He recounted Haresh and Urmila meeting each other via Facebook, and soon after, marrying in a local court.
“We knew Haresh was in love. But we were not immediately aware when they tied the knot. A couple of months after they got married, Haresh did not return home for three days.”Sunil Solanki, Cousin
Haresh worked as a driver for a Delhi-based timber businessman in Gandhidham.
“We assumed that he must be ferrying his boss around from one city to another. On the fourth day, we filed an FIR. Later, we found out that Urmila was missing from her home as well,” he added.
Fearing for their safety, the couple did not return home for nearly two months.
“In the meantime, Urmila sent a copy of their marriage certificate to her parents. Her family was infuriated, and they started sending us death threats. We managed to contact Haresh and convinced them to return home. They then started staying with us in Gandhidham.”Sanjay Solanki, Younger Brother
Urmila’s Kin Conspired to Take Her Home
In front of Haresh’s picture, perched on a mat, Yashwant Solanki recalled how two months previously, Urmila’s father, Dashrathsinh Zhala visited their home and took her with him on the pretext of her mother’s ill-health.
“Urmila left with her father, albeit reluctantly, with a promise that she will return home in a fortnight,” said Yashwant Solanki.
When Urmila did not return, Haresh and his mother Sushilaben involved the police.
They even filed a case in Gandhidham court. Urmila’s parents were summoned before the court on 14 June but they did not show up.
Then, Urmila’s brother informed Haresh that he would escort her back on 1 July.
“But they had no intention of sending Urmila back... they simply wanted to waste our time.”Sanjay Solanki, Younger Brother
‘Haresh Insisted on Accompanying the Cops to Urmila’s Home’
When Urmila’s brother did not adhere to the deadline he himself had set, Haresh met with his lawyer.
“He told the lawyer that he will go to the police and call the 181 Abhayam Women’s Helpline. He assumed that if the police accompanied them, her family will send her home, out of fear. So, he and my mother and my uncle reached Ahmedabad on 8 July,” Sanjay said.
According to Sanjay, the counsellors from Abhayam Helpline told Haresh to not accompany them to meet Urmila’s family in Varmor village.
“But my brother told them that if they ask for Urmila’s home at Varmor, none of the villagers will direct them to the correct address, as the Darbar community stands united against inter-caste marriages. He insisted that he can point out Urmila’s home from a distance and remain in the vehicle, while the counsellors and cops go and speak with her father.”Sanjay Solanki, Younger Brother
Urmila’s relatives lashed at Haresh with swords when they found out he was in the vehicle.
Family Seeks Justice
Sushilaben told The Quint that the police wanted to conduct the post-mortem as soon as was possible.
“At first they told me that my son is in the hospital due to a minor injury. However, outside the police station, I could hear the cops talk among themselves that a Dalit boy had been killed in Varmor. They even forcibly took my thumb impression on a blank paper.”Sushilaben Solanki, Mother
Sushilaben further added that the police carried out the post-mortem without her consent.
In the meantime, Urmila’s whereabouts are unknown.
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