Shravasti: A 22-year-old woman was allegedly beaten to death by her husband and in-laws and the body set on fire here, police said on Monday, as her family claimed she was killed because she had refused to accept talaq given to her on phone.
Saeeda and Nafees, both residents of the same village, married about six years ago. Nafees works in Mumbai and they have two children.
Saeeda’s father Ramzan told reporters on Saturday that his daughter was often beaten up by her husband and in-laws.
On August 6, Nafees divorced Saeeda on phone, he said.
The father said Nafees had returned home for Eid-al-Adha and this Friday, both sides agreed to a compromise and Nafees took Saeeda with him inside their home.
He and his family members then killed Saeeda and burnt her body, Ramzan said, adding this was done in presence of his six-year-old grand daughter. They allegedly poured kerosene on the body to set it on fire.
Sayeeda’s daughter Fatima told police: “On Friday noon, my father returned after offering namaaz and told mother to go away since he had given her talaq. Then they got into an argument.
“My grandfather Azizullah, grandmother Haseena, and aunts Gudiya and Nadira also were there. Father held my mother by her hair and thrashed her, my aunts Nadira and Gudiya poured kerosene and grandma and grandpa lit the matchstick.”
Sayeeda’s brother Rafique took the five-year-old to police where she narrated the whole incident.
“The accused have not yet been arrested. I will knock on the doors of the Supreme Court to ensure justice for my sister,” said Rafique.
SP Srivastava said a case of dowry death has been registered against eight persons on the basis of the complaint of Saeeda’s family.
“Saeeda’s husband and her father-in-law have been arrested,” he said, adding action against others will be taken based on investigation.
“So far no talaq angle has emerged in the case and if it emerges, action will be taken accordingly,” the SP said.
Meanwhile, major opposition parties have launched a scathing attack on the Yogi Adityanath government for its failure to prevent crimes against women ever since The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, was enacted banning triple talaq.
“The Modi government brought in triple talaq law but the Yogi government is not bothered about ensuring its proper implementation. Women are being beaten and killed because of triple talaq and the police are remaining mute spectator,” said Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav while referring to the killing of a 22-year-old woman in Shravasti. (Agencies)
