The Tribune, January 6, 2003

Woman strangulated in her house, alleges father
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, January 5
A young housewife, Poonam, was reported to have been strangulated to death in her house at Thana Kalan village, about 15 km from here, last night. According to a report, the Kharkhauda police have registered a case of dowry death against her husband Sandeep, mother-in-law Chatro Devi and brother-in-law Sanjeev and started investigations in the case. However, no arrests have been made in this connection as all accused named in the FIR were reported to have absconded.

Mr Baljit Singh, father of the victim and a resident of Jahri village, in his complaint to the police has alleged his daughter was married on April 16, 2000, to Sandeep of Thana Kalan village and she was being harassed by her husband and other members of her in-laws’ family for not bringing sufficient dowry at the time of marriage. He also alleged they were demanding Rs 2.50 lakh from his daughter in order to get Sanjeev recruited as a cop. But she had declined to get this money from her parents. Poonam had also stayed at her parental place for seven months in the past. However, she was sent to her in-laws’ house on the intervention of some persons of the village.

Mr Baljit Singh also said he was informed about the death of his daughter yesterday by someone on telephone. He rushed to the village along with his brothers and some other residents of the village to find his daughter’s body lying in the house.