A shocking case of dowry death has emerged from Bihar's Saran district, where a young woman was allegedly murdered by her husband and in-laws. The crime came to light when alert villagers prevented a hasty cremation meant to destroy evidence.
Villagers Thwart Midnight Cremation Bid
The incident occurred in Ismailchak village under the Sonepur police station area. According to police, Jassu Pandey, aged 25, was strangled to death following persistent demands for additional dowry. The accused, identified as her husband Kush Pandey and his family, then attempted to quickly dispose of her body at the Kallu Ghat crematorium late on Monday night.
Their plan was foiled when vigilant villagers grew suspicious of the hurried last rites and alerted both the victim's natal family and the police. A police team rushed to the ghat and seized the body, preventing the cremation.
A Timeline of Harassment and a Final Demand
Senior police officials provided details of the case based on the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the victim's father. Jassu Pandey was married in November of last year. Soon after the wedding, her in-laws began harassing her for more dowry.
"The harassment continued unabated," stated SHO Rajnandan of Sonepur police station. The situation reached a fatal climax on December 25, when the in-laws made a specific demand for Rs 6 lakh. Jassu was subjected to extreme torture for this money, which ultimately led to her death, as alleged in the complaint.
The FIR was lodged by her father, Ashok Kumar from Badhiyan village in Madhaura.
Arrests Made, Hunt for Absconding Accused
Following the recovery of the body and the registration of the FIR, police swiftly took action. Jassu's husband, Kush Pandey, and her father-in-law, Jairam Pandey, were arrested. They are currently under interrogation.
However, two other accused family members, the victim's mother-in-law and her uncle, managed to escape from the village. A manhunt is underway to apprehend them. This case has once again highlighted the grim reality of dowry-related crimes in the region and the desperate measures perpetrators take to cover their tracks.
