Woman thrashed by husband, sexually abused by brother-in-law for dowry

Married at the age of 15, a woman struggles to fight back with in-laws who have allegedly ousted her in the want of dowry. Suman (name changed) was married in the same house as her elder sister who, she claims, has also turned against her.

She claims that her in-laws began harassing her for dowry after she gave birth to a boy. "My husband wants to get rid of me as they have run out of money given to them during marriage. He never gives me money for household expenses." Suman, who works as a tele-caller in a telecom company, said that her patience with the abuse ended on the day when she was asked by her husband to get some milk for their three-year-old child, and he suddenly turned violent and bruised her on October 24.

"My husband choked my throat with his hand and my brother inl-aw as well as mother in-law thrashed me brutally."

Showing her bruises, she said her brother in-law sexually abused her. "The only reason that I am fighting is for my son. Even my sister has turned against me."



Suman said the first time she received backlash from her in-laws when she expressed her intention to study further. She claimed that they even disconnected the water connection of her washroom attached in the room two days ago.

Speaking to Mail Today, Sunil Kumar, brother in-law of Suman, has accused her of implicating his family in false case.

"Nobody in the family hurt her. On the night of the incident, when my brother tried to reconcile with her, she threatened him to leave him. When he confronted, she locked herself inside the room and banged her head against the wall." Kumar said the family was troubled with her late night calls and suspected that she might be having an affair.

She was told to mind her behaviour, but she threatened them to put false case on them. The police have registered a case for involuntary hurt, wrongful confinement and outraging modesty of a woman. The dowry complaint is still with crime against women cells, which has called the families for counseling on October 1.