Dhuta Singh and his wife Veerpal Kaur of Jhanduke village of this district set on fire Binder Kaur (wife of Jagsir Singh, elder brother of Dhuta Singh) on July 23, 2003 after they developed differences with Jagsir Singh over division of the ancestral house. Binder Kaur died in hospital.

Veerpal Kaur, who was married at Killi Nihal Singh Wala of this district, was murdered by her husband Lakhbir Singh, on January 17, 2003 after the accused allegedly developed illicit relations.

Once known for its well-knit family structures, the district has been witnessing an astonishing increase in number of murders due to illicit relations and domestic quarrels. What is happening within the four walls of a house does not become public until the matter reaches the point of crime.

Out of a total 182 murders, which have taken place in the past five years (from 2000 to 2004) in this district, 81 have taken place due to illicit relations and domestic quarrels. Violence in the families has resulted in 45 murders while illicit relations have led to 36 murders.

Information gathered by this correspondent revealed that the major reason for such increase is active participation of female members in the crime. In most of the cases relating to domestic quarrels, women had assisted the main accused in the murder. Interestingly, most of the victims had been women in case of illicit relations, while mostly men had been murdered in domestic quarrels.

Domestic quarrels have led to 13 murders in 2002, 12 in 2003, 11 in 2000, five in 2001 and four in 2004, while illicit relations took 12 human lives in 2003, nine in 2001, six each in 2000 and 2002 and three in 2004.

Information revealed that murders due to land dispute had also been taking place in significant number in this district having its agriculture-based economy. As many as 21 murders had taken place in the past five years due to land disputes with the maximum number of seven in the year 2000. Though the number of murders decreased subsequantly, in 2004, seven murders took place over land disputes.

The number of murders committed by strangers for various reasons like theft and rape were also significant as 25 murders had been committed by them in the past five years. Quarrels had resulted in 11 murders while murders which took place due to old enmity and water disputes were seven and two, respectively. A total of 35 cases of murder were registered by the police in the past five years. Information revealed that the year 2004 witnessed a significant decline in number of murders as only 35 murders took place as compared to 51 murders in 2003. In 2001 only 25 murders were committed.