Nayagarh: Eight years after her marriage, a woman died under mysterious circumstances in Itamati area of Odisha’s Nayagarh district with her family alleging that she was murdered for dowry.
The deceased has been identified as Phina Pradhan, who had got married to Rocky Pradhan of Itamati in 2015. Her father Panchu Pradhan and family members claimed that they had met the dowry demands of her in-laws at the time of marriage.
He further claimed that her in-laws mounted pressure on his daughter to bring more dowry a few years after marriage. The couple often entered into quarrels over the issue.
The family members of the deceased alleged that she was killed on June 19 and her in-laws took her to the cremation ground without informing them. Her last rites were performed in haste with an intention to destroy evidence, they alleged.
The woman’s family members have lodged a complaint at Itamati police station demanding arrest of those responsible for her death. Panchu Pradhan alleged that his daughter was beaten to death for failure to arrange Rs 2 lakh dowry.
Based on the complaint, police have detained Rocky for interrogation and launched an investigation. A case has been registered and investigation is underway, police said.