Kerala Woman Turned Into A “Bag Of Bones” By In-Laws For Not Paying Dowry

For a long time now, dowry has been deemed punishable by law. However, as ‘Made In Heaven’ has shown, it’s practised by many “progressive” families in very subtle ways. And in a worst-case scenario, people are killed or brutalised by their in-laws for not paying up.

According to NDTV, a Kerala woman allegedly faced the wrath of her husband and mother-in-law for not paying dowry and eventually perished. The police said,

“She looked like a bag of bones. A detailed inquiry has thrown light on the cruelty she was subjected to. Her relatives alleged that she was tortured for dowry.”

Reportedly, the mother of two children was given only soaked rice and sugar syrup. And before dying, she weighed a mere 20kgs.

The woman’s mother accused the in-laws of torturing her for five long years and not allowing her to meet her daughter for the past year. She said,

“We did not file any police complaint as we feared it would put her life in danger.”

Apparently, the woman’s family had given the in-laws some gold ornaments and money at the time of marriage. But that wasn’t enough for the in-laws. That’s why they had promised to give more.

Section 304B of the Indian Penal Code states that dowry death is a punishable offence with a minimum sentence of imprisonment for 7 years and maximum imprisonment for life. And, upon investigation, if the in-laws are found to be guilty then they should be punished appropriately. Or else this regressive law will continue to fester in the overlooked parts of our society.

Representative Cover Image Source: 1, 2