June 23, 2010
KANPUR: The industrial city is already infamous for being a hub of crime and the recent spurt in the cases of dowry-related offences has added another cause for concern.
In a shocking incident on June 19, a woman registered a complaint against her husband and in-laws under section 302 of IPC. She claimed that her husband and in-laws tried to kill her first by strangulation, then by poisoning her and after failing in both attempts, they abandoned her at her parents' house in Kalyanpur police station limits. The harassment was allegedly over dowry demands for a motorcycle and cash. The hapless woman, Gudiya, tortured beyond endurance, collapsed as soon as she reached her parents and was admitted to Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital, where she died on Sunday morning.
In a similar incident on June 17, Ram Kumari of Dallapurwa in Bithoor, soon after `Tilak' ceremony, had the groom and his family arrested for demanding cash from her family.
The two incidents highlighted the prevalence of a social evil like dowry, even in this day and age. As per the records provided by an NGO, as many as 21 cases of dowry deaths (section 304 B of the IPC) have been reported in the district alone till June 20, while 40 cases have been listed under `cruelty meted out to woman by her husband and his relatives' (section 498 A of IPC), which is also linked with dowry demands.
"These crimes are in fact a matter of concern, as they reflect the condition of women in our society," said Neelam Chaturvedi, a social activist, who runs an NGO. Chaturvedi further feels that the dowry death cases in the district "need a thorough investigation to effect a decline in this ever-growing social evil". She is actively involved in the fight against crimes against women in the city.
Chaturvedi said that the crimes against women also have roots in the "peculiar masculine syndrome that exists predominantly in our society". After being subjected to physical or sexual abuse by husbands, the women either end their lives or are murdered, she added. Reports stated that the city witnessed at least one dowry death every day. Even though section 304 B of IPC imposes severe punishment against practice of dowry in any form, no marriage "can be solemnised' without some form of dowry, said an official, working for women who have faced harassment due to dowry demands. Police records say some 30-40 cases are filed every year. But few get relief from the courts, according to city-based Sakhi Kendra, an NGO that deals with women's issue.
For instance, Rashmi, a housewife, who had come to the city from Lucknow after a love marriage, is now fighting a dowry case against her husband's family for allegedly harassing her over dowry payments. Another activist, Archana said that two to three women are taken into Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital's burn unit every day. The latest arrival is a young woman from Kanpur Dehat, who has 80% burns. The victim said her husband poured kerosene over her and told her to die. Doctors at the burn unit told the Media that the condition of girl is critical. Another woman patient in the unit said that that her husband, who is an alcoholic, took all her jewellery and then demanded more dowry from her parents, so she went into the kitchen, poured kerosene over her body and set herself ablaze.
As per a senior high court lawyer, "It is all the more agonising that aggrieved persons, after the police refuses to buy their version, have to move court for relief and justice." In one such case reported from Narwal, Vinay Pandey, whose sister had died under suspicious circumstances owing to the alleged cruel treatment of her in-laws in December, 2009, failed to get a case of dowry death registered, he had to file a petition in local court, which has now issued a directive to the police to register a case against in-laws of his sister.
Another victim who testified in the court said she suffered regular beating and mental torture at the hands of her husband of 5 long years, before ending her marriage.
"Physical harassment and abuse was part and parcel of my three years of married life. My husband always demanded dowry from my parents, but as my parents were unable to give it, he used to beat me. I left my husband. At present I am staying with my parents," said a dowry victim from the city, who did not wish to be named.
No comments:
Post a Comment