Recently a horrific incident of a 25-year-old hanging herself was reported from Muzzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. As per the sources, a 25-year-old woman, Komal, allegedly hanged herself as her in-laws shot the video from the window.
Post which, the in-laws of the victim uploaded the video on social media to claim they were not involved in their daughter’s-in-law death in any way.
But sadly, when the woman’s family was approached, they informed that in-laws had been harassing their daughter for dowry. As per TOI, the family claimed that the in-laws’ constant harassment pushed their daughter to take this extreme step.
As per TOI, while Komal prepared to hang herself, her in-laws and husband stood outside to shoot the video. The incident happened on Sunday. In the video that has now gone viral, Komal could be seen tying the noose around her neck with her stole. As the woman gasps for breath, she tightens the noose to check for its grip before hanging herself.
In the heartbreaking video, as Komal finally hangs herself, the in-laws could be heard saying – “Apne Aap Latak Rahi Hai” (she is hanging herself).
While Muzaffarnagar SP (City) Arpit Vijayvargiya said the video was indeed shot from outside the room. The officer further claimed that the woman’s in-laws tried to save the woman from hanging herself. However, the woman’s parents don’t agree with him.
As per Komal’s father, the in-laws were consistently harassing her for dowry. While filing the police complaint, he mentioned:
“I had given Rs 5 lakh and a bike to his family at the time. But his father Devendra and Mother Savita and brother Sachin were not happy. About six months ago, they thrashed Komal and forced her out of the house,”
He further added:
“Two months ago, they started demanding Rs 1.2 lakh. They said that they would get Ashish married to someone else if she could not pay the dowry. All four of them got together and killed my daughter,” he said.
The police have arrested the deceased woman’s father-in-law and mother-in-law, while her husband, Ashish, and her brother-in-law are on the run.
All four have now been booked under sections 304B (dowry death), 498A (cruelty to married woman), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and under sections 3 (giving or taking dowry) and 4 (demanding dowry) of The Dowry Prohibition Act.
This incident raises so many questions – Shouldn’t the authorities investigate what pushed Komal to take such an extreme step? Shouldn’t the people – who put this woman to extreme stress – be punished for making them so helpless that she took her own life?
It is heart-breaking how even in the 21st century, women are killing themselves because of extreme harassment of their in-laws and husband. We wish every parent would tell their daughters to come back home if their husband and in-laws don’t treat them well. Because a divorced daughter is better than a dead daughter. We wish no woman feels so helpless that she takes her life because of abusive in-laws and husband!
At IFORHER, we hope this woman would soon get justice and authorities would investigate the case thoroughly. And not another woman has to go through similar pain!
For those who are struggling, please find help at Suicide Prevention Helplines.