SHILLONG, April 30: The East Khasi Hills police on Wednesday arrested a man for allegedly assaulting his 26-year-old wife at their residence on Monday.
The accused has been identified as Petrus Nongkhlaw.
According to the victim, she had been assaulted by her husband four to five times in the past month alone. She alleged that he was having an affair with another woman and would either scold her or switch off his phone whenever she tried to contact him.
She further claimed that he would beat her whenever he returned home.
The victim’s mother expressed grave concern for her daughter’s well-being, stating that her son-in-law did not allow her daughter to visit her parental home or meet her siblings. She said her daughter lived in constant fear.
The wife also alleged that her husband had threatened to bury both her and their young son alive Though the assault occurred on Monday, the mother only came to know about it the following day.
She immediately took her daughter to the Pomlum Primary Health Centre (PHC), from where she was referred to the Shillong Civil Hospital due to the severity of her injuries.
In the FIR lodged at Mawngap Police Station, the mother accused her son-in-law of physical assault and urged the police to take necessary action.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW), led by chairperson Iamonlang Syiem, visited the victim, who is currently undergoing treatment at Shillong Civil Hospital, on Wednesday evening.
Speaking to reporters, Syiem revealed that the woman was pregnant at the time of the assault and had suffered a miscarriage. She added that the victim had been married for about two years and had endured similar abuse in the past.
According to the MSCW chairperson, the woman has had three to four miscarriages, all reportedly linked to repeated physical abuse by her husband.
Syiem assured that the commission would closely monitor the case, particularly since an FIR has already been registered. She also confirmed that the woman’s current health condition is stable.
Making a public appeal, Syiem urged society to support and stand by victims of domestic violence. “It is unacceptable for a husband to beat or assault his wife, even under the influence of alcohol,” she said.
