Bhawanipatna: A woman lodged a complaint with the police accusing her father-in-law of torturing her for dowry here Friday. The woman also said in her complaint that her father-in-law attempted to rape her several times.
On the basis of the complaint lodged by victim Sushrita Rath (19), police registered a case and arrested the woman’s husband Narayan Panda and father-in-law Ramesh Panda. They were produced in court and later sent to jail as their bail petition was rejected.
Police said Sushrita, daughter of Venkateshwar Rath of Dewansaheb Pada, married Narayan of Shibamandira Pada May 25, 2015. Two months into the marriage, she said she came to know of her husband’s extramarital affairs with a number of girls.
When she asked him to put an end to his affairs, she alleged that Narayan threatened to kill her if she meddled in his personal affairs and added that he has been regularly torturing her mentally and physically ever since.
As the torture became unbearable, she said she approached her in-laws seeking help. However, instead of coming to her help, they supported Narayan’s activities and even threatened to drive her out of the house if she did not fall in line, she alleged in her complaint.
Egged on by the support of his family members, Narayan brought his girlfriend one day to his home and spent the night in his bedroom after driving out Sushrita, she said. Narayan continued with the practice every day since then. Sushrita had no option but to keep mum.
Taking the opportunity of her helplessness, her father-in-law tried to outrage her modesty several times. When she protested, all of her in-laws started assaulting her regularly. They had threatened to kill her if she dares to disclose the matter before her family.
As the torture became unbearable, she apprised her brother of the matter and fled from her in-laws’ place to her parents’ house May 18.
She lodged a complaint with Town police May 25. Police registered cases against Narayan, Ramesh and sisters-in-law Chandini Dash, Kiranmayee Sahu and Tanmayee Muni.
Directed by Kalahandi superintendent of police Brijesh Kumar Ray, a team of police led by Town police station inspector-in-charge Surendranath Satpathy arrested the accused. PNN