Woman tortured over 3rd daughter

Lodges Complaint Against In-Laws After Being Rescued By Neighbours


Subhro Maitra | TNN



Malda: Delivering a third girl child was crime enough for a man and his mother to start thrashing his wife regularly and even with a smouldering piece of wood. Even the newborn was not spared and singed with a bidi. At her tether’s end, Taslima finally lodged a complaint with police on Friday after being taken to hospital by neighbours.
Taslima of Moslempur village got married to Alam Sheikh, owner of a small shop in neighbouring Krishnapur village under English Bazaar PS, around five years ago. After two years of marriage, Taslima gave birth to a girl — Sabina, who is now four years old — but things were fine, she said. Even a second daughter — Rakeya, now two — kept Alam silent. But she did not know that he was hoping for better luck next time.
All hell broke loose when Taslima delivered the third girl child around 40 days back. Alam and his mother Malijan Bewa allegedly started beating up Taslima brutally. “Alam started pressuring my daughter to bring money from us to bring up the girls. We have little, but tried our best to satisfy them,” alleged Taslima’s mother Jahanara Begum.
“Since my third daughter’s birth, Alam began to torture me mentally and physically. He never even picked her up in his lap,” narrated Taslima. “On Thursday, things went to an extreme. I was cooking and my husband and mother-in-law started cursing me. I, too, reacted by saying that I’d leave the house. This infuriated them. My husband first singed my newborn with a bidi. When I rushed to save her, he struck me with a burning piece of wood.”
Taslima’s cries brought in neighbours like Nurul Islam and Ansarul Mandal, who informed her parents and took her to hospital. Islam confirmed that of late, Taslima was tortured by her in-laws. In hospital, too, Alam allegedly threatened Taslima with dire consequences if she dared open her mouth before police.
On the basis of Taslima’s complaint, police have registered cases against Alam, his brother and mother under sections 326, 307, 498A IPC, which includes attempt to murder by burning and torture on wife. Alam is absconding. Police sources said raids are on to nab him....published in TOI on 20.02.10