Chandigarh, Dec 7: A 24-year-old woman was found dead under suspicious circumstances at Bapu Dham Colony in Chandigarh on Tuesday, with her family alleging that she was murdered following months of dowry harassment and physical abuse.
Police said the woman, Anita, was married to Pankaj of the same locality on February 1 this year. Her brother, Luv Kumar, told police that Anita had faced “continuous physical and mental torture for dowry” since the wedding. “She kept telling us they demanded money and household items and beat her repeatedly,” he said in a written complaint.
Kumar alleged that Anita suffered a miscarriage last year due to severe beatings. He said the accused family expelled her during Diwali and allowed her to return only after he purchased an LED and a juicer for them.
On December 3, Kumar said he received a distress call from his younger sister, who told him Anita was crying and terrified. When he spoke to her, she reportedly said, “He is beating me a lot. The pain is increasing. I am afraid he might kill me.”
The FIR includes Anita’s allegation that Pankaj had an illicit relationship, which she believed had escalated the abuse.
Around 3:42 p.m., a neighbour called the family and informed them that Anita had been taken to a hospital. “When I reached there, she was already dead. There were injury marks on her body. The staff told us she was brought in a dying state,” Kumar said.
Police have registered a case under Section 80 (dowry death) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and said an investigation is underway.
