Alleged dowry death victim, Meena a.k.a Meenakshi

Kishan Lal Sharma, father of the deceased Meena (Meenakshi) has lodged a complaint against five members of the in- laws family for allegedly torturing, harassing and provoking his daughter, mother of an 8 month old, to commit suicide.

Meena, a 21-year-old girl, succumbed to her injuries today morning after she was admitted to MB Hospital last night of 6 June with 75% burn injuries. Meena allegedly poured inflammable and put herself on fire at her house at Badgaon.

Ambamata Police has registered case against Meena’s husband Manish Joshi, his father Bhagwatilal Joshi, his mother Mangi Bai, his brother Dinesh and Dinesh’s wife Sunita for allegedly harassing Meena for dowry which led her to commit suicide.

Suicide of Meena, graduate in M.A and a B.Ed, has shocked the entire neighborhood of Dabok where she had spent her entire childhood and youth. Around 20-25 people including friends, relatives and neighbors of Kishan Lal gathered outside hospital’s mortuary to take the dead body.

in Photo: Relatives of victim, waiting outside Hospital Mortuary

However, none of in-laws, including Meena’s husband, came to hospital. A few far-relatives (in laws side) were there and tried to take custody of dead body that led to heated argument between the two groups.

Police Deputy Officer Dayanand Sarang and others brought the situation under control and dispersed the crowd.

According to sources, Manish was jobless from last few months after he left job in a private bank, victim’s father also alleges that her daughter was not allowed to visit them nor she was allowed to talk to them on phone.

in Photo: Kishan Lal, father of Meena

“7 months back, I went to take her back to dabok but her in laws didn’t allowed, they were continuously harassing her and demanding dowry” said the inconsolable Kishan Lal.

The incident occurred at around 10 pm on Wednesday night. Meena’s maternal cousin Ratan Devi Sharma who stays near Meena house at Badgaon first came to know about the incident and informed her father in Dabok.

Manish and Meena were married 2 years back. Meena was well educated and also got a job but amid pressure from her in laws she could not opt for it, said sources.

The case is under investigation of Additional Deputy Magistrate Yaseen Khan Pathan.