Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) [India], July 1 (ANI): A woman died after allegedly consuming a suspected corrosive substance in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior district, with her family accusing the in-laws of subjecting her to continuous harassment over dowry demands, a police officer said on Wednesday.
Following the incident, the police registered a dowry death case against a woman’s husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law at Thatipur police station in the district.
According to the police, the deceased, identified as Nisha Rathore, was admitted to the hospital in critical condition on June 22 and succumbed two days later, on June 24. Her family alleged that Nisha was subjected to continuous harassment by her husband and in-laws over dowry demands and accused her husband of assaulting her and forcing her to consume acid.
City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Maneesh Yadav said, “On June 24, the woman’s husband informed her family that Nisha Rathore had consumed a poisonous substance. Her family immediately tried to induce vomiting. Upon her brother’s arrival, her husband and brother-in-law took her to the hospital, where doctors confirmed she had ingested poison and referred her to another facility. Despite continuous efforts to revive her, doctors stated she was in no condition to give a statement. The police were notified.”
He further said, “Since she was a newlywed, a Tehsildar and other officials arrived at the scene, but no statement could be recorded. Tragically, she passed away shortly thereafter. Her parents have alleged that her in-laws frequently demanded dowry, repeatedly sent her back to her parental home, and physically abused her. They claim she committed suicide by consuming poison because she was driven to despair by this treatment. The family also suspects that her husband may have forcibly fed her the substance.”
A FIR has been registered into the matter against three individuals which include the woman’s husband, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law under section 80, 85, 3 (5) of Bharatiya Nyay Sahita (BNS) and the accused will be arrested soon. Further action will be taken based on the evidence emerging in the probe, he added.
When asked about the allegations raised by the woman’s parents of physical assault by the husband, the officer said, “The investigation has revealed that the accused frequently taunted and instigated the victim over dowry-related demands–specifically for a three-wheeled vehicle, a flour mill, and a gold chain; these details are also included in the FIR. The case has been registered and further investigation will proceed based on the evidence gathered.”
According to the victim’s family, Nisha married Gajendra Rathore on May 2, 2022. They alleged that soon after the marriage, her in-laws began demanding additional dowry, including a gold chain, a flour mill and a three-wheeler, and frequently harassed and assaulted her over the demands.
“My daughter attended a wedding on June 19 here. She was weeping and telling me how her in-laws harassed her, despite the fact that I had given a substantial dowry, they kept demanding more. They constantly tormented and troubled her, always asking for money or other things. She left to her matrimonial house and after that they had an altercation for 3 days at their house and then they made her drink acid, causing her death. She had been married for about 4 years, but they rarely kept her at their home. She spent most of her time at my house. She has a three-year-old son who is now with me. They neglected them both…,” said Sunita, mother of the deceased Nisha Rathore.
The deceased’s mother further said that justice should be served to her daughter and the accused should be punished. Her husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law had troubled her a lot.
“They used to harass my daughter constantly. They demanded a flour mill, a gold chain, a loading vehicle, and Rs 2 lakh in dowry…I told her to go to her in-laws’ house for the time being, saying we would bring her back in a day or two…we received the news, they had forced her to drink acid. They killed her by making her drink acid…now we want justice for my daughter,” said Man Singh Rathore, father of the deceased. (ANI)
Related reading
