Woman strangled; police book in-laws for dowry death

A 21-year-old married woman was allegedly strangled to death by her husband and in-laws for dowry here on Friday. The incident occurred at Mehadipur village falling under the Majitha police station here. The victim, identified as Preet (21), was married to Vishal Masih in March last year.

On the complaint of Saba Masih, victim’s father and resident of Dhariwal in Gurdaspur, the Majitha police have registered a case against three persons, though no arrest has been made till now.

Besides Vishal Masih, the police booked his father Labha Masih and mother Deesho under Sections 80 (dowry death) and 61 (2) of the BNS.

Saba told the police that Preet was married to Vishal in March last year as per the religious rituals and he had given dowry as per his capacity. He said after three months of marriage, the accused started harassing his daughter and sent her home after a quarrel. She was again sent back to her in-law’s house following the intervention of relatives and elderly people of the community. He said yesterday, he got a call from her in-laws that Preet was vomiting blood and she was taken to hospital.

He said he along with his family reached their house and found Preet dead. He said they found strangulation marks around her neck. They suspected that the accused had strangled her to death for dowry. The police have recovered the rope while further investigations were on.