Mrunal Manmay Dash

In an unprecedented turn of events, some local women, said to be the supporters of Tapaswini Dash who has been sitting on dharna in front of her husband Dr Sumit Sahu’s home at Brahmanagar in Berhampur, tried to storm the house after breaking open the main gate on Monday evening.

As per reports, a scuffle ensued in front of the dharna site before the women supporters broke into the main gate of the house. However, they could only enter up to the verandah and not the house.

Speaking to reporters, Tapaswini said, “They are here to get me justice. I am sure these women will definitely help me enter my in-law’s house. I am thankful to them for their help.”

A woman among the protestors said, “We had to do this. The matter has stretched for too long. Sumit needs to take Tapaswini in now. This dharna is setting a bad example for our husbands. They can treat us in a similar fashion in the future.”

Following the event, Tapaswinin moved her make-shift tent from outside of Sumit's house to the verandah inside the premises.

As per the latest reports, the Addistional SP of Berhampur has reached the spot to pacify the protesting women. 

It is pertinent to mention here that Tapaswini, a native of Chhatrapur in Ganjam district had hogged the limelight after staging a sit-in for 11 days in front of her husband Sumit’s house at Brahmanagar in Berhampur town under a tent. She demanded her in-laws to accept her as their daughter-in-law.

Tapaswini had claimed that she married Sumit in a court on September 7, 2020. After marriage, she even lived at Sumit’s house as his wife for six months. But, she was later driven out of the house on the pretext of conducting their marriage as per vedic tradition. She was asked to go to her parents’ place and stay there till her marriage with Sumit was not solemnised.

Recently, a court had order the couple to live in a rented accommodation, the cost of which is to be borne by Sumit, in a bid to end the animosity. However, Sumit allegedly disappeared and later claimed that his absence from the house was on account of sickness. On Sunday, Sumit’s family accused Tapaswini of demanding Rs 8 lakh which was latter rubbished by the latter claiming that the old video had no relation with the present standoff.

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