By Sagar
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 22: As the city was celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi August 30, Sheetal’s (name changed) in-laws continuously hit her, slapped her and kicked her. Before she could lose her consciousness, they dragged her out of the house and locked door, leaving her alone on the road in the middle of night.
The Khandagiri police patrol, under whose jurisdiction Sheetal’s home at Bharatpur fell, was startled when some residents of the area told them about the crying woman. The police made arrangements for the woman to stay in the locality for the night. No case was lodged even the next day. The matter was instead settled with the help of locals.
Sheetal’s dreams of a happy conjugal life with Rashmi Ranjan Das, a 32-year-old businessman from Bharatpur, turned sour soon after they married in March 2010. Life became a saga of physical and mental torture, which ended after five years January 19 when she was rescued from solitary confinement where she was kept without food since December 6 last by Mahila police on the directive of the sessions court.
At the time of marriage, Sheetal’s father, Jyotilal Das, a 50-year-old farmer, had given `1 lakh and three gold rings as dowry, according to a petition in the sessions court. However, six months into the marriage, she was slapped and kicked by her sister-in-law Manorama Das (29) for not bringing promised dowry of `60,000.
Manorama, Rashmi Ranjan, Sheetal’s mother-in-law Srimati Das (49), father-in-law Gourapada Das (57) and aunt Laksmi Das (38) started accusing her of being infertile. “They said that I should commit suicide or beg on trains by clapping like hijras,” Sheetal said. “Twice, my in-laws jabbed live wires into my body and gave me electric shocks,” said Sheetal.
When locals tried to settle the matter amicably August last, it was agreed that Sheetal would be treated medically. However, according to the petition, the doctor advised that Rashmi Ranjan should also undergo a check-up. However, he never turned up and even stopped Sheetal from visiting the doctor.
The in-laws even snatched away her phone and locked her at home without food.
Sheetal had a close escape January 10, when her mother-in-law gagged her and her husband poured kerosene on her. The in-laws even abused her parents and did not allow them in when they came the next day to rescue their daughter. Jyotilal Das approached the Khandagiri police, who were indifferent. He then knocked on the court’s door, which asked Mahila police to take the petition as FIR and rescue the girl.
Sheetal was rescued January 19.
“They had almost killed me. I don’t know about my future. However, if not killed, I would have certainly become insane I had stayed in that house. They had tried to slash my throat the day my parents had come,” said Sheetal.
Sheetal’s husband and father-in-law are behind bars while other in-laws are absconding. Cases under several sections have been registered.
