Kendrapara: A case of a ‘dead’ woman returning alive may sound strange. But in a story that is stranger than fiction, a woman who is believed to have died five years ago has reappeared.
According to Sukanta Kumar Patra, IIC of Rajnagar police station, Mamata Mallick, 35, daughter of Pitambar Mallick, of Terohi under Pattamundai police station, had married Minaketan Mallick, son of Ghana Syam Mallick of Khandeipada under Rajnagar police station in 2001.
The couple was blessed with two sons. In 2013, Mamata went missing from her in-laws’ house, leaving her two kids. Her father lodged a complaint alleging she was killed by her husband and in-laws.
Police registered a case under Section 498 (a), 323, 506 of IPC and 4 Dowry Prevention Act and arrested Minaketan and his elder brother Madhab Mallick. The siblings were later released on bail.
Three days ago, Mamata was spotted at Bhatapada with a youth, who is said to be her lover. Soon, her in-laws came to know about her return and informed the police.
Rajnagar police detained Mamata and the youth for interrogation. Giving a new twist to the story, Mamata called herself Devi and claimed she had never married anybody and refused to identify her husband and children at the police station. Then the police asked Mamata’s parents to identify her.
When her parents identified Mamata in the presence of police, she had no go but to disclose her true identity.
Later, Mamata informed the police that she concealed her identity as she did not want to keep any relationship with her husband and children. She alleged she was tortured at her in-laws’ house.
Mamata also claimed she had once made a suicide attempt. Later, she escaped from her in-laws house and went to Hyderabad where she earned a living by doing menial jobs.
Three months back, she came in contact with Madhab Sethy of Bhatapada. They developed a relationship and decided to marry.
Police handed over Mamata to her parents as she refused to go to her in-laws house or to keep any relationship with her husband and children. PNN
