From correspondents in India, 08:30 PM IST

A 18-year-old young woman and her boyfriend who were beaten and burnt to death by her family for daring to fall in love were cremated here Friday while the police hunted for their killers.

More than 100 villagers and relatives watched as the funeral pyres of Rekha and Sonu were lit in their Vair village in Greater Noida, which borders New Delhi.

Police officer Dev Karan vowed to catch the killers, come what may. 'Give me some time to arrest them. I have set up four police teams to arrest the remaining three criminals.'

The family members of Rekha beat her and 19-year-old Sonu in a field Thursday. As they collapsed, the attackers set them on fire. The killings sent shock waves in the region.

Rekha's grandfather Pooran Singh has been arrested. Based on his confession, the police are now looking for her father Gulab Singh, cousin Kailash and his friend Samay Singh.

Pooran Singh told the police: 'I warned the girl several times not to have close ties with the boy but she was adamant. When she did not listen, this harsh step had to be taken.'

He added that while the girl's family were 'reputed farmers', the boy's family 'are mere labourers. There was no match between the families. But the girl ignored our advice'.

According to police, Rekha asked Sonu to join her at her father's field, where she had gone to collect fodder for the cattle. The family apparently caught the two in an 'objectionable position'.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)