A 27-year-old Bangladeshi woman, seeking justice against alleged torture by her in-laws and separation from her child, found herself behind bars in Agartala on Sunday. The woman, identified as Sweety Akter, was sent to jail for illegally staying in Tripura after she approached a local court for help.
A Desperate Plea for Help Leads to Arrest
Sweety Akter was brought to the Sonamura police station in Tripura's Sepahijala district by a local journalist. She had fled her in-laws' home in Melaghar and reached the Sonamura court complex. According to police officials, she was produced before a court and, following legal procedure, is set to be deported to Bangladesh.
The Officer-in-Charge of Sonamura police station, Tapas Das, confirmed her arrest under applicable sections of the Indian Passport Act. The court subsequently placed her in judicial custody for three days.
A Cross-Border Marriage Turns Sour
In her account, Sweety detailed how she met Sagar, a resident of Mohanbhog block in Melaghar, five years ago when he visited his maternal uncle's home in Bangladesh. After several meetings, they stayed connected via social media and decided to marry. She illegally crossed the border to formalize the relationship, and religious rites were performed in India with both families involved.
"After a few days, circumstances began to change swiftly. My husband left for abroad to earn a living. I and my 21-day-old daughter were left in the house of my in-laws," she recounted.
She alleged that as time passed, her in-laws began to torment her. "I endured physical abuse at the hands of my father-in-law, Kahesm Miah," Sweety stated. She claimed that despite her complaint against her in-laws being under investigation, no arrests have been made in connection with her allegations.
Separated from Child and Facing Deportation
The central point of her anguish is being separated from her young daughter. "I have been requesting my father-in-law to grant me custody of my child so that I can return home, but they refuse to comply. My husband has ceased all communication with me, and I overheard on the phone that he instructed his parents to drive me away from home," Sweety said.
In a tragic twist, she revealed that she had fled to Bangladesh about a year ago, but her in-laws later approached her family with assurances. "They visited my home and assured my family that they would cease their torment. But the severity of the abuse only escalated," she added.
Now, her quest for justice and reunion with her child has been complicated by her legal status. The court's order places her in judicial custody for three days, after which she faces deportation to Bangladesh, potentially leaving her child behind and her allegations against the in-laws unresolved in the Indian legal system.
