In-laws booked for 45-yr-old woman’s death

Our Correspondent

Lalru, February 17

The Lalru police here on Saturday booked three women under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC in connection with the death of a 45-year-old woman, who died under mysterious circumstances at Lalru Mandi.

The deceased has been identified as Santosh Rani, a resident of Lalru Mandi. Following the incident, the family of the deceased alleged that her two sister-in-laws strangled her to death. However, refuting the allegations, her in-laws asserted that the woman committed suicide by hanging herself from the washroom ceiling, using a piece of cloth.

The deceased woman’s brother, Krishan Kumar, a resident of Rajpura, on Saturday filed a complaint against her sister-in-laws.

Krishan, in his statement to the police, had alleged that her sister Santosh Rani was married to Yashpal of Lalru Mandi nine years ago and had two children from the wedlock.

He further stated that her sister-in-laws Santosh Kumari and Sheela Rani and their niece Shalu had objections on certain things and this had become a reason of disenchantment between them. He also stated in his complaint that her sister used to tell his wife about being allegedly harassed and physically assaulted and even constantly abused by her in-laws.

Kumar added that on Saturday morning, he received a call from her husband Yashpal that Santosh had committed suicide.He alleged that when they reached Lalru Mandi, they found her dead body lying on the bed with scars on her neck. “It seems that she had been strangled,” Krishan added.

A case under Sections 304 and 34 of the IPC was registered against Santosh Kumari, Sheela Rani and their niece Shalu.

Autopsy videographed

The entire process of autopsy was videographed as per the wish of her family members to ensure transparency. A panel of three doctors had been set up to conduct the post-mortem. One of the doctors from the panel said it did not seem to be a case of a suicide as there were injury marks on her neck. Sources from the Civil Hospital said the viscera of the deceased had been sent to a laboratory at Kharar to know more about the cause of her death.