Boota Singh and Zainab fell in love, married, and had two daughters. Years later, Indian government authorities forcibly deported Zainab back to Pakistan under a treaty aimed at returning abducted women to their families.
Desperate to reunite with his family, Boota illegally crossed into Pakistan. He even converted to Islam and took the name Jamil Ahmed in a desperate attempt to gain acceptance from Zainab's family. However, they refused to accept a former Sikh. They beat Boota and handed him over to the Pakistani authorities. Under immense pressure from her family and society, Zainab was compelled to reject him and end their marriage.
Devastated by the court's verdict, Boota went to Shahdara Railway Station near Lahore with his daughter, Tanveer. As a train approached, he jumped onto the tracks. While he died instantly, his infant daughter miraculously survived.
In his pocket, police found a heartbreaking suicide note. His final wish was to be buried in Zainab's village, Noorpur. However, Zainab's family refused to allow his burial there. Instead, a massive and emotional crowd of local Pakistani citizens in Lahore took custody of his body, mourning him as a martyr of love (Shaheed-e-Mohabbat). He was eventually buried in Miani Sahib Graveyard in Lahore.