Forbidden love

A chaotic scene on the grounds of the principle courthouse in the Punjab’s largest city, may help to explain the painfully slow progress of Indian justice. Lawyers conferring outside with clients, preparing their cases much as they would have a century ago.

Last October, an antiquated Indian justice system finally prosecuted those accused of killing Jassi Sidhu.

The verdict? Seven of the defendants were convicted of murder. All of them sentenced to life in prison.

As for Jassi’s uncle and mother, though they were also charged by Indian authorities as conspirators in her death, they’ve remained in Canada and have not appeared in an Indian court. Never tried in absentia, they remain fugitives from Indian justice, but still living free in Canada.

Which is where we found her uncle, Surgit Badesha, last year.

Bob McKeown, Dateline correspondent: Mister Badesha, can I have a word with you sir?

For a moment it seemed possible he was finally ready to talk.

McKeown: My name is Bob McKeown. We’ve been following the story of the murder of your niece for five years now. It’s been more than five years. And, as you know, you have been charged with conspiracy to kill her in India.

We have records showing 147 phone calls between the phones of the accused killers in India and your phone in Canada, your home in Canada. Can you give us any plausible explanation?

Surgit Badesha, Jassi's uncle: I don’t know anything..

McKeown: Well, you know something, you made those calls or received them.

Badesha: I am sorry, I don’t know anything.

Despite all Jassi told her friends, the convictions in India and the records from Surgit’s home telephone, there are still no charges in Canada and no indication the RCMP has even questioned Jassi’s uncle or mother.

As for Jassi’s husband Mithu, he’s still sitting in a jail cell, fighting to clear himself of the rape charge that he insists is just the latest attempt to shut him up.

McKeown: Is there any question in your mind that you being in prison now, has to do with your marriage to Jassi?

Mithu: No, there’s no doubt.

He’s lost his wife and now his freedom. But after all that, his most cherished possession remains the wedding ring that Jassi gave him.

McKeown: Given all that’s happened, do you sometimes wish that you never laid eyes on her?

“No”, he told me, in answer to that question, “...never.”

Though Jassi’s death has been tragic for Mithu in so many ways, for her family back in Canada, it appears their life has hardly changed.

McKeown: Just one last question, Mister Badesha? When she died, no one from your family went to claim her body. If, if as you say you had nothing to do with this, why did you just leave her there thousands of miles from home?

It was just one of many questions that Jassi’s uncle refuses to answer.

Jassi’s remains were claimed by Mithu’s mother. And in keeping with tradition, she was cremated.

Though the flames of a funeral pyre consumed her body, Jassi’s memory burns on, in the hearts of friends who are still determined to find justice for the young woman who died for the man she loved.

Nicole, Jassi's friend: It made us feel comforted that at least for this little bit of time that she had with him, she was doing what she wanted, and she was just just doing it for her, and for him, and not for anyone else.

The so-called "honor killings" of young women and girls are not that uncommon in India, Pakistan and the Middle East. The United Nations estimates that, worldwide, there are about 5,000 such killings each year.

MORE FROM DATELINE

Dateline Section Front

The Friday the 13th Mystery Mystery at Lost Dog Road Slideshow: Photos in the Bob Duke case When The Smoke Clears   Sneak peek: When The Smoke Clears Slideshow: The Christie Fleming murder Transcript: Dan Brown and Secrets Of The Lost Symbol Through The Pouring Rain In Plain Sight: Jaycee Dugard Timeline: Jaycee Dugard's kidnapping Dateline Section Front   Add Dateline headlines to your news reader: