A 19-year-old newlywed woman from Nagpur was allegedly strangled to death by her in-laws last Friday after enduring continuous dowry harassment and sexual advances from her brother-in-law. The family initially claimed she died of a heart attack, but an exhumation and autopsy on Sunday revealed compression marks on her neck and signs of asphyxia, confirming strangulation.
Arrests Made in Dowry Murder Case
The victim's husband and brother-in-law were arrested late Tuesday after her parents provided crucial evidence, including voice recordings of their daughter's desperate calls. The father-in-law remains at large. The accused, residents of Mominpura, were remanded to police custody until Friday.
Details of the Crime
The woman married in January and was immediately subjected to dowry demands. The situation worsened when her brother-in-law began demanding sexual favors. She regularly informed her mother about the abuse, and two voice recordings captured her distress, describing pressure for more dowry and unwanted advances.
After being told of her sudden death, her parents traveled from Amravati to Nagpur. Following a standoff, they received her body and performed last rites in Amravati. A police complaint was filed on May 17.
Investigation and Evidence
Acting on the complaint, police and district administration exhumed the body. An autopsy at the burial site, ordered by the sub-divisional officer, led to a murder case at Tehsil police station in Nagpur. The voice recordings are expected to establish the motive and pattern of abuse. The family alleges the in-laws tried to cover up the murder as a natural death to avoid legal consequences.
