Young woman dies allegedly over dowry in Odisha’s Bargarh; husband arrested

Bhatli: A young woman was allegedly strangulated to death over dowry by her husband and father-in-law in Kusanpuri village under Bhatli police limits of Bargarh district, a source said today.

The deceased was identified as Surama Nanda (21), the daughter of Gangadhar Nanda from Lukapada village under Puintala police limits of Bolangir district. Her husband was identified as Sagar Kushal.

According to a police source, the woman previously had love affairs with the man and the couple got married a year ago. With the consent of both families, Surama was brought to her in-law’s house.

Gradually, the in-laws allegedly started demanding dowry and physically and mentally tortured her.

“A few days before Nuakhai, Surama’s in-laws contacted us over a mobile phone and demanded dowry. They misbehaved and scolded us. As we failed to meet their demands, they killed my daughter on September 22nd night,” the victim woman’s father said.

“When we reached Kusanpuri village, we saw that there was a clear mark around Surama’s neck. Sagar’s family threatened my daughter on the intervening day and she was screaming for help. A phone call which was recorded by us has the evidence of it,” bereaved Gangadhar expressed.

Family of the victim woman filed an FIR with Bhatli police alleging that she has been killed over a dowry demanded by the in-laws. Acting on the FIR, police arrested the woman’s husband and launched a probe into the suspicious death. Police have sent the body for post-mortem.