Indian woman murdered for having an affair

A Punjabi woman living in the UK who disappeared nine years ago was reportedly murdered by her husband and his family because she had an extramarital affair.

Surjit Kaur Athwal, a Sikh, was married to Sukhdave Athwal but did not enjoy good relationships with her husband's family as a result of her "westernisations" including her short hair.

The 27-year-old conducted an affair with one of her co-workers at Heathrow Airport and consequently the relations worsened and the family conspired to murder her.

Mrs Athwal had lived in Hayes, west London, before she disappeared in 1998 and a court heard yesterday that she was strangled by her brother-in-law in India after being tricked into visiting the country for family weddings that were not really going to happen.

Michael Worsley, QC told the court: "It is not in dispute that [Surjit] had an affair with fellow customs officer Harry Grewal. You can imagine the resentment that would have given rise to any family where close family bonds are considerably desirable.

"They were Sikhs - and for the girl to have an affair was obviously something disgraceful. And eventually feelings against her boiled over.

"Within a few days of arriving in the Punjab she completely disappeared from the surface of the Earth. The Crown suggests she was strangled in India."