Woman strangulated to death at in-laws’ place at Bhojpur village, 1 held

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara : A married woman was strangulated to death at village Perhap under Sahar police station in Bhojpiur district on March 25, 2019, evening, allegedly by her in-laws for a gold chain in dowry.

Police recovered the body and brought it over to Sadar Hospital, Ara, for post-mortem. A named FIR was lodged by Sahar police station against five persons : Dharmedndra Rawani, husband of the deceased, Jitendra Kumar Rawani, brother-in-law (devar), and Jai Mangal Rawani, father-in-law, and two sisters-in-law, on the statement of Dharmsheela Devi, mother of the deceased. Police have arrested brother-in-law (devar) of the deceased Jitendra Kumar Rawani so far in this connection.

SHO, Sahar police station, Harendra Kumar, quoting the FIR, said that Rekha Devi, daughter of Upendra Rawani of Jamuni Toli under Narayanpur police station, was married to Dharmendra Rawani, son of Jai Mangal Rawani of village Perhap in the year 2010 and she had three children:  Khushbu Kumari, Priti Kumari, and Gulshan Kumar.

But, ever since her marriage, Rekha Devi was allegedly being tortured by her in-laws for a gold chain and Rs 50,000. Rekha Devi’s father Upendra Rawani had given Rs 50,000 to Dharmendra Rawani for buying a motorcycle but her in-laws continued to torture her for a gold chain and when their demand was not fulfilled, they strangulated her to death on March 25, 2019, late evening. The SHO said that when the police were taking the body to the Sadar Hospital for post-mortem, the parents and other family members of Rekha Devi demanded the arrest of the accused. Police arrested Jitendra Kumar Rawani, the SHO said and added that police were conducting raids to arrest the remaining named accused.

Upendra Rawani said that the in-laws had thrashed Rekha Devi and dragged her out  of the house about a fortnight ago and she came to her parents’ house but her brother-in-law Jitendra Kumar Rawani took her back two days later. He said that the in-laws once again thrashed her a day before the Holi for the same reason and she had informed him about it on mobile phone. He complained to the local police but in vain and finally they strangulated her to death and escaped from the spot. The SHO said that the police are investigating the matter from different angles and the culprits would not be spared.