BANKE, Nov 2 - In yet another instance of violence against a woman over dowry, one Imtihaad Halwai of Nepalgunj Municipality-5 and members of his family reportedly tried to burn his wife alive Thursday.

However, the victim -- 19-year-old Sakira Khatun -- managed to escape unharmed and reach her blood relatives, her clothes drenched in kerosene.

"My husband and father-in-law held me while mother-in-law poured kerosene on me," Khatun told the Post, narrating the harrowing incident. "However, as she was trying to light the matchsticks, I managed to escape from their clutches and flee."

The Halwai family had been torturing her ever since her wedding two years ago for not bringing enough dowry. She also disclosed that they burnt her cheeks and arms with a heated panyu (serving spoon) just two months ago.

"They used to torture me frequently as my father couldn't fulfill their demands for a motorcycle and three lakh rupees in cash as dowry," she said, showing the burn marks. "Sometimes they threatened to kill me with electric shocks while at others they threatened to burn me alive."

She also claimed that the Halwai's family snatched away all her possessions. Her one-year-old daughter is still with them.

The woman has filed a complaint with police, demanding action against her assailants.

Abdul Ajij, father of the victim, who came here all the way from Gonda in India, demanded stringent action against the perpetrators. "My daughter should get justice. What can be a worse matter than this for a poor father?" he asked with a choking voice.

Posted on: 2007-11-02 21:14:44 (Server Time)