A young woman in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, has become the victim of a harrowing ordeal just one year after her marriage, allegedly driven out and brutally assaulted by her husband and his family for refusing to change her caste.
The Wedding and the Immediate Harassment
The 20-year-old woman, a resident of Pipiganj, had entered into matrimony with Mukesh Yadav from Bargadwan village on April 7. The temple wedding was solemnized with the consent of both families, painting a picture of a harmonious union. However, the situation deteriorated rapidly soon after the ceremony.
According to a formal complaint lodged by the victim's mother at the Chiluatal police station on Friday, the woman was immediately subjected to relentless taunts and harassment. The abuse was twofold: centered on her caste and accompanied by persistent demands for additional dowry. The family's ultimatum was clear and shocking: she would only be accepted into the household if she agreed to change her caste.
The Violent Assault and Abandonment
The harassment culminated in a violent attack on September 9. The incident took place at a rented accommodation in the Gorakhnath area of the city. The complainant alleges that Mukesh Yadav, with the assistance of his friends, physically assaulted his wife. The beating was so severe that she was left unconscious.
In a cruel act of abandonment, the accused then allegedly transported the unconscious woman to an area near Bargadwan village, dumped her there, and fled the scene. This left the victim in a vulnerable and dangerous state following the physical trauma.
Legal Action and Police Investigation
Based on the mother's detailed complaint, the Gorakhpur police have initiated legal proceedings. An FIR (First Information Report) has been registered against multiple individuals, including the husband Mukesh Yadav, his father Panchu Yadav, and two other accomplices.
The charges invoked are serious and reflect the nature of the allegations. The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for dowry harassment as well as under the stringent Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Chiluatal Station House Officer (SHO) Suraj Singh confirmed the police action, stating, "FIR has been registered based on the complaint and the case is under investigation." The statement underscores that the probe is active and ongoing to bring the perpetrators to justice.
This case highlights the grim realities of caste-based discrimination and dowry-related violence that persist in some sections of society, even when marriages are initially conducted with familial consent. It also puts a spotlight on the legal mechanisms, like the SC/ST Act, that are designed to protect vulnerable citizens from such atrocities.
