LARKANA: Kamran Larik, who was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH) on Wednesday along with his wife Tahira Shah in a critical condition, died here on Thursday.

The couple was brought to the hospital after they were reportedly poisoned by their relatives as punishment for their freewill marriage solemnised in court on Aug 8.

The death was confirmed by Prof Hakim Abro, head of the department of medicines, on Thursday.

Sajjid Larik, Kamran’s cousin, received the body and transported it to Hingorja, the native town of the victim.

His wife was shifted to the general ward after her condition improved. But she was kept in the dark about the death of Kamran. After the marriage, their parents and other relatives contacted and convinced them to return on the pretext that they wanted to give them a traditional send-off. Believing them, the couple reached home and were taken to a nearby buffalo den.

The relatives initially tried to shoot them dead, but fearing that someone might hear shots and rush to inquire about the noise, they forced the couple to drink poison and left them unconscious believing them dead.

After registering FIR, Hingorja police has taken into custody Ahsan Shah, Murad Shah, Tahseen Shah (father and uncles of Kamran), Ghulam Rasool and Imran (father and brother of Tahira).

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2016