Rayagada: The people of a village thrashed a woman after her daughter-in-law allegedly committed suicide due to dowry torture in Odisha’s Rayagada district.
According to sources, Mahalaxmi Gouda of Ulabhadra village under Kasinagar block of Gajapati district was married to Santosh Gouda of Kujendri village under Gunupur police limits on May 3. Mahalaxmi’s parents had given dowry including gold jewellery, motorcycle and household articles as demanded by her in-laws at the time of marriage.
But a few days after the marriage, her in-law family including mother-in-law and husband allegedly told her to demand more dowry from her parents. As the newly-wed girl’s parents expressed their inability to meet the demand, they started torturing her physically.
Unable to bear the torture, Mahalaxmi informed her parents and her mother Chanchala Gouda came to Kujendri to meet her on Wednesday. Chanchala tried to convince Santosh and his parents that they were unable to meet the demand due to their financial condition and requested them not to torture her daughter.
Soon after Chanchala returned to her house, Mahalaxmi consumed pesticide to commit suicide in her in-law’s house. On coming to know about it, the villagers admitted her in a hospital at Gunupur and latter shifted her to MKCG Medical College and Hospital at Berhampur. But she succumbed in the hospital on Saturday.
After Mahalaxmi’s body came to the village, the agitated villagers went to her in-law’s house and abused her mother-in-law. Holding her responsible for Mahalaxmi’s death, they also beat her up. Following this, she has been absconding.
Police have registered an unnatural death case after Mahalaxmi’s parents lodged a complaint alleging dowry torture against her mother-in-law. They have also detained Santosh and launched a manhunt to trace his mother.
