Woman dies, husband & parents-in-law arrested

Times News Network

Ujjain: A woman’s husband and parents-in-law were arrested in Ujjain for allegedly forcing her to consume poisonous substance, leading to her death during treatment, police said on Wednesday.

The case came to light after 25-year-old Priya Bairagi, a resident of Barthun village under Bhatpachlana police station limits, was admitted to hospital in critical condition on June 2 after consuming poison. She was later shifted from Nagda to Ujjain for treatment.

Before her death on June 5, a tehsildar recorded her dying declaration in which she alleged that her husband Balkadas Bairagi and his parents, Rajubai and Prahladdas, had forcibly made her consume celphos tablets.

Based on the statement, Bhatpachlana police registered a case under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and arrested all three. They were produced before a judicial magistrate first class court in Badnagar and sent to judicial custody.

According to police, Priya had been facing harassment by her in-laws for several years. A case of assault had earlier been registered against her husband following a complaint lodged by her. The couple had separated and even divorce proceedings had started but they later resumed living together after intervention by family members.

Investigators said that statements of Priya’s family members and local residents also pointed at continued harassment.