The shocking incident was reported from Mahuda village under Digapahandi police limits. The victim with 30 per cent burn injuries was undergoing treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital.
As per report, Sanjay Pradhan allegedly poured sanitiser on his wife Rita and set her ablaze with an intention to kill her. In the process to douse the flame, the woman poured water on her.
She had moved to a relative’s house after the incident. However, she was admitted to MKCG by her relatives after her condition deteriorated.
Rita had married Sanjay four years back. Her family reportedly gave Rs 1.70 lakh as dowry during the wedding. However, her in-laws had allegedly been demanding more dowries.
Earlier, Rita’s family had lodged a complaint with Berhampur Mahila police station. The two families had tried to resolve the matter amicably, but could not reach any consensus.
Sanjurani Debata, who teaches Sanskrit at Durgapalli UP school in Puintala, was reportedly attacked by her husband, Pradeep Kumar Panda, who is also a teacher by profession.
According to sources, Sanjurani was sitting in the staff room of the school in the morning today when her husband barged into the room and attacked her with a knife. The man was reportedly angry after Sanjurani lodged a dowry harassment case against his family.
“I reached office at 8.30 am today and was sitting in the staff room when my husband entered the room at around 9.45 am. Other staff were also present in the room. He dragged a chair and sat beside me. He asked if I would go outside with him for a talk. After I refused to go, he held me by my hairs and pulled out a knife before slitting my throat,” the lady teacher said.
Other staff of the school rescued the woman teacher and rushed her to a nearby hospital where doctors put two stitches to close the wounds.
Meanwhile, the locals caught hold of the accused and tied him to a tree. Later, the Puintala police reached the spot and rescued him.
According to locals, the couple got married one and a half year back. They were not living together due to their postings in different schools.
The woman recently lodged a dowry harassment complaint at Agalpur police outpost alleging that her in-laws had been torturing her for not delivering a child.
The accused as well as the police were unavailable for comments.
The complainant, a resident of Mahadev Parisar locality here in Madhya Pradesh, got married in December 2016 to the son of Mahtab, the Biju Janata Dal MP from Cuttack in Odisha, he said.
She lodged a complaint at a women police station in Bhopal on Tuesday, saying her family had spent a huge sum on her wedding and that she was allegedly being harassed for dowry, the official said on condition of anonymity and refused to share any further details of the complaint.
A case was registered against the MP, his wife and son under Indian Penal Code Sections 498 (a) (subjecting a woman to cruelty), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), and provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act, he said.
We have registered the FIR and started an investigation into the case, the official said.
However, Mahtab is yet to respond to the allegations levelled against him and his family.
Mitra's daughter-in-law has reportedly lodged the complaint alleging that she was harassed for dowry. Names of Mitra's wife, daughter and younger son are also mentioned in the complaint.
Mitra's eldest son, who had married the girl last year, is reportedly working abroad.
“Mitra’s daughter-in-law came to the police station with her baby on September 15 and lodged an FIR against the family members (her in-laws). As per her statement, a case has been registered under section 498 of IPC,” said Khurda SP Dipti Ranjan Ray.
Notice has been issued to the victim's in-laws, the SP added.
As per the complaint, Sasmita stated that Rammurty's son Lalit Ranjan Gamang had married her in May 2017. Few days after their marriage, her in-laws including father-in-law Rammurty and mother-in-law Anusaya started harassing her. Sasmita alleged that she was tortured to bring Rs 5 lakh as dowry.
"My husband used to torture me by hiding my phone and assaulting me. Even though I cried for help, my father-in-law staying in the adjoining room did not even come to my rescue," said Sasmita.
However, Rammurty denied the allegations saying Sasmita is mentally unstable and his family will also lodge a police complaint against her.
Meanwhile, police has initiated a probe into the allegations.
"Sasmita had lodged a complaint earlier and the case was settled. She approached the police again yesterday and investigation is underway," said Gunupur IIC Nirmal Panigrahi.
Mohapatra's wife alleged that he did not keep any relation with her after she gave birth to a girl child and is in a relationship with another woman. He also threatened her through an unknown person on Sunday, she added.
In a Press meet here organised by State Progressive Women's Forum Mohapatra's wife said, "I suffered all physical and mental torture silently but on March 27 he left me on the verandah of my father's house, he did not receive any call or telegram from us thereafter."
On the other hand Mohapatra denied the allegations. He said, "Why are the so called social activists raising the issue of the year 2003 in 2017? It is an attempt to blackmail me and I will take appropriate legal action on it."
The officer informed that the complainant has sought the custody of her son, who is studying in a public school here.
“She (Lopamudra) is seeking her protection, a house, custody of her son, and compensation from her in-laws. We will incorporate all these details in the DIR and submit it to the SDJM court tomorrow,” Khurda Protection Officer Mrs. Rashmiprabha Mishra said.
After meeting the officer, Lopamudra said, “I met the district protection officer and applied for DIR order. I have submitted all supporting documents.…After I filed the complaint at the Badagarh police station, the ACP had come to my place last night and spoke to me.”
Meanwhile, the statement of Lopamudra was recorded at the Mahila Police Station under Section 161 of IPC.
Following her complaint at the Badagarh police station yesterday regarding threat to her life, security has been provided by the Commissionerate police.
Describing Wednesday’s incident before media, she said, “At around 8.30 am, five to six people came in two vehicles to my paternal house and forcibly entered the room. The unidentified youth started manhandling me. They tried to kidnap my son. When I resisted, one of them put a knife on my neck. They used slang and asked me: ‘Are you Trialokya Mishra’s daughter-in-law?’ If you again speak about Trailokya Mishra, Ashamanjari Mishra and Sabyasachi Mishra in the media, we would kill you and your family members and kidnap your son. They went back in their vehicles after sitting on the sofa for quite some time.”
According to sources, a dowry harassment case has been registered against Trailokya Mishra, his wife and his son Sabyasachi Mishra.
As per the complaint filed, Lopamudra Mishra had married Sabyasachi in 2006. However, after marriage, Sabyasachi allegedly tortured her physically and mentally.
Moreover, Lopamudra has mentioned of being beaten by Sabyasachi.
“I have been subjected to immense torture. In one such instance while we were in Port Blair he thrashed me when I did not agree to his wife swapping demand. There have been many instances and he and his family would assure me that such things will never happen. Unable to bear the torture and noncooperation from my husband and my in-laws, I finally decided to approach the media,” said Lopamudra.
On April 2016, Lopamudra had also filed a case against his husband and in-laws in Kharavela Nagar Police Station.
Meanwhile, no comments could be obtained from Trailokya Mishra and Sabyasachi Mishra on the charges leveled against them.
“A case has been registered with the Mahila Police. The investigating officer is probing the matter and all the concerned officials have been asked to expedite the case. We are doing an impartial probe of the matter and will take action based on the material evidences,” said Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi.
According to reports from certain sections of media, one Rashmita Mallick of Sholapur village had tied the knot with Radheshyam Mallick of Ambiligaon village in Gop area of the district in 2016. As days passed by, she complained of harassment by her husband and in-laws over dowry.
Even though she approached Konark Police Station several times, police did not take any action thereby forcing her to move the court, the reports stated.
Acting on the directive of Konark court, police finally registered a complaint and arrested the woman’s husband, but he somehow managed to get a bail after a few days, the newspaper reports further stated.
The situation worsened when Rashmita learnt that her husband has married another woman of Nayahat area. Unable to bear this, she attempted suicide by drinking kerosene, and was immediately admitted to Gop Community Health Centre (CHC).
Despite undergoing treatment, she again visited the police station along with her mother and demanded justice. But when she didnot get justice, she walked away from the station and was seen walking with a saline bottle fitted to her body. Later, the woman was shifted to Puri district headquarters hospital in an ambulance, the reports added.
Soon after the entire incident came to light, it sparked sharp criticism from several quarters.
Former Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda, condemning such negligence towards safety and security of women, urged the Odisha Police to immediately look into the incident.
ଏହି ମହିଳା ଜଣକ ବାରମ୍ବାର ନିଜ କଷ୍ଟ ବିଷୟରେ କହିବା ପରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ପୁଲିସ କୌଣସି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟାନୁଷ୍ଠାନ ନ ନେବା, ଏମିତି କି କୋର୍ଟଙ୍କ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ ପରେ ହିଁ ମାମଲା ରୁଜୁ କରାଯିବା ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟଜନକ! ମହିଳାଙ୍କ ସୁରକ୍ଷା ପ୍ରତି ଏଭଳି ଅବହେଳାକୁ @PandaJay ସର୍ବଦା ନିନ୍ଦା କରିଆସିଛନ୍ତି। @odisha_police ଦୟାକରି ତୁରନ୍ତ ଦୃଷ୍ଟି ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ। ? pic.twitter.com/6x0jePNuZp
— Baijayant Panda Odia (@Panda_Odia) October 22, 2018
Asked about the incident, Gop IIC Ranjan Kumar Pradhan stated that the case is under trial and investigation is on.
As per sources, the victim, Rashmirekha, tied the knot with Asish Padhiari of Gokanpur village in 2017 and the couple had a six-month-old daughter.
The incident has sent shockwaves in the area while her family members have lodged a police complaint against her in-laws holding them responsible for their daughter’s death. The victim's family further alleged that her in-laws had been torturing her since marriage demanding more dowry and when their demand was not met they set her on fire.
Getting information, police rushed to the spot and seized the dead body. This apart, based on the complaint lodged by Rashmirekha's family, the cops have detained her husband, father-in-law, mother-in-law for interrogation.
“A case has been registered in this connection. The body has been sent for post mortem. Further investigation is on and we are interrogating her husband and in-laws,” informed a police official.
As per reports, deceased Pinky Swain (24) of Gobindapur village had tied the knot with one Firoj Swain of her village two years back with full consent from both the families.
The matter came to fore when Pinky's neighbors informed Sheragada police after seeing her body lying in a pool of blood inside a room of her in-laws' house.
Sheragada police has recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem while an investigation has also been initiated.
Though the exact reason behind the murder is yet to be ascertained, Pinky's mother filed a complaint with the police alleging that she was being harassed by her in-laws frequently.
Moreover, Pinky's in-laws missing after the incident, has made them the prime suspects in the case, police sources claimed.
"Both were in a relationship and had married two years back. The marriage was solemnised in a temple and was not registered on papers. When we asked them to register the marriage after fulfilling all their demands, they kept on delaying and today they committed the crime," alleged Pinky's uncle.
"We suspect that the girl was murdered over dowry. There was dispute between the couple and they were not happy with each other," said a villager.
Meanwhile, a police official of Sheragada Police Station, RN Majhi said "It is being alleged that the woman was being tortured by her in-laws for the last two years and today they murdered her. Investigation is on into this."
Though the incident took place on October 23, the matter came to the fore on Wednesday after the video of the survivor's father accusing her in-laws of committing the crime went viral on various social media platforms.
Reports said, one Bilash Chandra Das of Bhandaripokhari area in Bhadrak district had recently got his daughter married at Jalanda. However after few days of good rapport, the woman’s in-laws allegedly attempted to kill her by pouring kerosene and setting her on fire on last Wednesday.
Some villagers rushed to the spot after getting information and rescued the woman. They later admitted her to Jajpur District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) and informed her parents.
The woman's father also reached the hospital and shifted her to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on the advice of doctors, said sources.
"When I went to Korei Police Station to lodge an FIR two days after the incident, an official present at the police station informed us that the IIC was not present. He asked us to just submit a written complaint and visit the PS after seven days,” said Das.
He alleged that even though seven days have passed, police are yet to take action into the matter. The survivor's father further alleged that though the health condition of his daughter is critical, police are yet to record her statement.
With no option left, Das narrated about the incident and subsequent police inaction into the case before a person who posted his statement on social media after capturing it in a video.
Meanwhile, following the incident, Korei police has registered a case and initiated a probe into the matter yesterday.
Korei Police Station IIC Ranjit Mohanty clarified that a dispute between Das and his son over filing of FIR in the case led to delay in probe into the matter.
Balasore SP Charan Singh Meena said, “I will look into the matter and direct the officials to take appropriate action.”