Taunted for her plain looks by hubby, woman ends life

Praveen Kumar | NT

Upset over her husband’s adverse remarks regarding her looks, a woman has committed suicide by setting herself ablaze after pouring kerosene in DJ Halli police station limits. The victim’s kin has filed a case of abetment of suicide against the husband.

The victim has been identified as Anisha, 33, a resident of Idga Mohalla in DJ Halli, and she was a homemaker. The police have registered a complaint against her husband Nijamuddin, and mother-in-law Khalimunnisa.

The victim is the second wife of Nijamuddin and got married three years ago. His first wife is said to have deserted him. The victim is the mother of a two-year-old Nafisa and six-month-old Yusuf.

“The accused is said to have been mentally torturing her saying that she was not good looking and repeatedly asking her to die so that he can marry another woman The harassment began within a few months after the wedding. The victim was reportedly adjusting to her plight as she had two little children. Her motherin-law was also supporting her son,” said a police officer, based on the statements of the victim at the Victoria Hospital’s burns ward.

On Thursday night at around 10 pm, the accused two are said to have started harassing the victim again asking why she has not died yet. Upset over this, the victim is said to have thought about ending her life. She doused herself with kerosene that was at home and set herself on fire early Friday at around 12.30 am.

“The victim’s little daughter is said to have seen her mother while committing suicide. Unable to bear the pain, the victim started screaming for help. Her husband, mother-in-law and neighbours managed to douse the fire and rush her to the Victoria Hospital. As it was a medico legal case, the hospital reported the matter to the jurisdictional DJ Halli police. The police managed to record her statements in the presence of a duty doctor. As she had sustained over 60 per cent burns, she succumbed on Monday,” the officer added.

In her statements, the victim had blamed her husband and his mother for her decision to end her life. The police have taken the custody of Nizamuddin.

The police have registered a case of abetment of suicide (IPC 306) along with other sections of IPC (Indian Penal Code). Further investigations are on.