With the lockdown, there has been a rampant increase in domestic violence cases. One such heartbreaking incident happened in Bengaluru when a 34-year-old woman paid a heavy price for refusing her husband a cup of coffee.
According to sources, the 34-year-old mother sustained burns after her husband threw steaming water on her during an argument over refusal to serve him a cup of coffee.
The woman called Bangalore police on the afternoon of April 16, when she was referred to Parihar – Vanitha Sahayavani (women’s helpline) at the police commissionerate.
On the afternoon of April 16, the man demanded coffee but his wife refused him. She told him she couldn’t as she had a lot of work in the kitchen because the maid wasn’t coming due to the lockdown.
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Her refusal led to an argument, and in a fit of rage, the man grabbed a vessel of boiling water from the stove and poured it on his wife, leaving her with severe burns.
BS Saraswathi, senior counselor at Parihar who received the woman’s call of help, shared with the media:
“It was evident the woman caller was in excruciating pain. She told us her husband had poured hot water on her after she refused to make him a cup of coffee.”
The counselor added:
“The lockdown has been tough on families as tensions have flared between most couples since they remain indoors. In this case, the three-member family is confined to their small home and the husband, a scrap dealer, is facing severe financial crisis with his business being hit.
Neighbours rushed in after hearing her cries and administered first-aid. She then called the police control room,”
Post the call, the Parihar team contacted the woman’s brother, who lives a few kilometers away. With the local police assistance, she was sent to a hospital. Though the woman is out of danger, she has suffered 20% burns.
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Rani Shetty, head of Parihar, further added:
“We have strictly advised the woman and her family to approach the local police in Bengaluru Rural to lodge a complaint against the husband. We are following the case progress.”
Domestic Violence During Lockdown
We are heartbroken with the increasing domestic violence against women in India.
Recently, in Pitampura, Delhi, amid lockdown, an educated couple had a verbal argument, which turned into domestic abuse after the husband slapped the wife. A similar incident happened in Bihar.
In order to handle the increasing cases of domestic violence during the coronavirus lockdown period, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has launched a WhatsApp number to report cases of domestic violence.
@NCWIndia have launched a ‘WHATSAPP NUMBER’ for help & assistance to women experiencing #DomesticViolence at wake of #Covid19Lockdown.
Send ????WHATSAPP ALERT????
???? 7⃣2⃣1⃣7⃣7⃣3⃣5⃣3⃣7⃣2⃣#HelplineSupport#IndiaFightsGenderAbuse#SayNOtoDomesticViolence pic.twitter.com/qhQmJTisZm— NCW (@NCWIndia) April 10, 2020
It is heartbreaking to see how lockdown has hit women with domestic violence, overwork, and pain. In tough times like these, it is sad and depressing how women are facing the ugly face of our patriarchal society.
