Girl, 18, shot by brother and father in 'honour killing' attempt

A teenage girl is fighting for her life after her father and brother shot her in the face and chest in an attempted honour killing because she loved a man in her village.


Ruby, 18, from a small village in Sambhal, in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, had been in a secret relationship with Ibrahim, 24, for the last three years.


But yesterday her younger sister overheard her talking to him on the phone and told her brother and father.


Within minutes of finding out, Ruby's brother, Iftikhar, 32, and father, Sameraj, 52, confronted her.


They brutally beat her before shooting her twice – once in her face and once in her chest.


Neighbors heard loud screams and called the police who rushed to the scene.


They arrived at approximately 4am this morning to find Ruby lying on the floor outside her home, bleeding to death as members of the family did nothing.


Police rushed her to a local government-run hospital where her condition was reported as critical.


Due to a lack of facilities, she was referred to a private hospital in Moradabad, around 40 kms away, early this morning.


Video footage showed Ruby being taken to hospital covered in blood with a bandage on her face.


Her brother and father were arrested at the scene.


Officer Brahmapal Singh Baliyan, from Asmoli Police Station, said: 'It's an honor killing case. The girl told us at the hospital that she was shot by her brother and father after they came to know about her relationship.


'She also said that her mother was involved as she opposed a marriage between the girl and her boyfriend.


'She is currently in a critical condition and is being treated at a private hospital with police protection.'


Dr Jitender Singh, Emergency Medical Officer at the District Hospital, said: 'She arrived in a semi-conscious state and was bleeding heavily. Her blood pressure was really low and she was barely able to speak.


'She had one bullet in the left side of her face, around 3 cm away from ear, and one bullet on the right side of her chest. As we do not have proper surgeons or an ICU ward here, she was referred to a private hospital in Moradabad. She needs immediate treatment as she could die due to heavy bleeding.'


Both father and son are currently in police custody and have been arrested under Section 307 (Attempt to murder) of Indian Penal Code.
Police confirmed other members of the family will be interviewed once Ruby is in a stable state to give an official statement.