In a tragic case highlighting the persistent evil of dowry demands, the Chandigarh Police have made arrests following the death of a young woman. The victim's husband and his brother have been taken into custody, while her sister-in-law is currently absconding.
Chronology of Harassment and Tragedy
The case originated from a complaint filed by Luv Kumar, a resident of Bapudham Colony, at the Sector 26 police station. Kumar stated that his younger sister, Anita, had married Pankaj Ghawri from the same locality on February 1, 2024. According to the complaint, the harassment began almost immediately after the wedding.
Anita was allegedly subjected to relentless dowry harassment and physical abuse by her in-laws. The mistreatment was so severe that it reportedly caused her to suffer a miscarriage. The family of the victim tried to appease the in-laws by providing money and goods on multiple occasions. However, the demands did not cease.
Escalating Demands and Final Pleas
The situation reached a breaking point on Diwali, when Anita's in-laws allegedly threw her out of their home. Their fresh demands included an LED television and a juicer. Luv Kumar pleaded with them, explaining his difficult circumstances as the family's sole guardian in his father's absence and after having already arranged marriages for two other sisters.
The nightmare culminated in early December 2025. On December 3, Kumar received a distressing call informing him that Anita was in trouble and terrified. When he spoke to her, she was crying and expressed fear for her life, stating that she was being beaten and that her sister-in-law, Meenakshi, did not wish to see her alive.
Discovery of Death and Police Action
Two days later, on December 5, 2025, around 4 PM, a neighbor alerted Kumar that Anita had been rushed to Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH) in Sector 16. By the time he reached the hospital, it was too late. He found his sister dead, with visible injury marks on her body.
In his complaint, Luv Kumar held his sister's husband Pankaj, sister-in-law Meenakshi, and brother-in-law Vijay responsible for her death. Acting on the complaint, the UT police registered a case and subsequently arrested Pankaj Ghawri and Vijay. The search for the absconding sister-in-law, Meenakshi, is ongoing as the investigation proceeds.
