Sundargarh: A 22-year-old woman was left battling for life Tuesday after she allegedly set herself on fire in a bid to commit suicide failing to bear repeated mental and physical torture inflicted upon her by her husband and father-in-law.
The woman was identified as Nilima Sa (22). On being alerted, police with the help of locals rescued the woman and admitted her to the district headquarters hospital in a critical condition. She was later shifted to Rourkela IGH as her condition deteriorated further.
Police in the presence of doctors recorded the statement of the victim and detained her husband Loknath Sa and father-in-law Krushnachandra Sa for interrogation.
Police registered a case over a complaint by the victim’s brother Tankadhar Sa and launched an investigation into the matter.
According to police, Nilima, daughter of Labanidhar Sa of Ledimang village was married to Loknath of Gangajal village under Kutra police limits one year back. All dowry demands were met during the marriage.
However, trouble followed after Loknath began demanding a refrigerator and Rs 50,000 more as dowry. He tortured Nilima both mentally and physically after she expressed her inability to meet his demands. He along with his family members assaulted her and forced her to leave his house.
On several occasions, Loknath brutally tortured Nilima, alleged her family members. Failing to bear the torture anymore, she took the extreme step and set herself ablaze after dousing herself in kerosene, family members added. IIC Menaka Rout along with a forensic team reached the village for investigation, sources said. PNN