Dowry deaths remain a major concern in MP:1 woman dies every day; families accused of forcing suicides

People are sharing posts and stories on Instagram demanding justice for Twisha. Retired Army personnel are also holding rallies in her support. So far, it is still not clear how and why Twisha died. Twisha’s in-laws are calling her a drug addict, while her maternal family has made serious allegations against them. The family said they had given a Scorpio during the marriage, but the in-laws were demanding a Fortuner. The case is now in court. Twisha’s father has reached Jabalpur Court seeking justice for his daughter. Family members have refused to perform the last rites until they get justice. However, the bigger question is whether this is the first such case in which a woman has died by suicide after alleged harassment. So the truth is far more terrifying than this question. In MP, one woman loses her life every day due to dowry. Data from NCRB’s ‘Crime in India 2024′ report shows that in 2024, 450 women in the state lost their lives due to not giving dowry or giving less dowry. Read… 3 recent cases Case-1: Suspicious death of a young woman from Chhindwara A young woman from Chhindwara had a love marriage on February 22, 2022. The family hoped that their daughter would be happy marrying the person of her choice, but after some time, she told her father that her in-laws beat and harassed her. She last met her father in 2023. After this, the family’s contact with her reduced. On April 6, 2024, around 11 AM, the family received a call from the hospital stating that their daughter was undergoing treatment. When the father reached the hospital around 4 PM, his daughter was found dead. The family alleges that they were not even informed about their daughter being taken to Nagpur. The father says that when he called the in-laws, no one received the call. The family suspects that the young woman was poisoned to death. Case-2: Palak started breaking down just a few months after marriage 21-year-old Palak Rajak, a resident of Suraiyapura, Gwalior, died under suspicious circumstances on May 12. Her in-laws are calling it suicide, while her parents have accused them of murder. Palak was married about a year ago. The family alleges that she had been under mental stress since her marriage. About 30 minutes before her death, Palak had called her brother Prince. She had said, crying Take me from here otherwise these people will kill me. By the time her brother arrived, his sister’s body was on a stretcher in the hospital. Palak, who was active on social media, had over 10,000 followers on Instagram. Police investigation revealed several of her posts and reels, in which she appeared to hint at suffocation, loneliness, and mental breakdown. The investigation also revealed that she had not eaten for three days before her death. Case-3: Married two and a half years ago, body returned from the hospital now A case of suspicious death of 24-year-old Bhavna Yadav has come to light in Nasira village of Guna district. Bhavna was married about two and a half years ago to Girraj Yadav, a resident of Nasira, from Kadwaya village in Ashoknagar district. The maternal side alleges that soon after the marriage, Bhavna started being harassed over dowry. She was also beaten. The family has also handed over an audio related to dowry harassment to the police. According to relatives, Bhavna’s health deteriorated on Wednesday. Her in-laws said that she had consumed a poisonous substance due to a family dispute. She died while being taken to the hospital. After the post-mortem at the district hospital on Thursday morning, the body was handed over to the family. After the daughter’s death, the family members were in a state of distress, crying outside the hospital. Case-4: Consumed poison due to dowry harassment In Byavara Kalan village, under Khilchipur police station area of Rajgarh district, 22-year-old Bhavna alias Bhurabai consumed poison due to harassment over dowry. She was married to Sunil Dangi, a resident of Byavara Kalan, about two years ago. According to the family, her condition deteriorated at her in-laws’ house on May 9. She was first taken to Khilchipur Hospital, from where she was referred to Bhopal in serious condition. She died late Saturday night during treatment at a private hospital in Bhopal. The deceased’s father, Ramesh Chand Dangi, alleged that her husband Sunil Dangi and father-in-law Siyaram Dangi had been harassing his daughter for dowry for a long time. She was subjected to daily physical assault and mental harassment. Disturbed by this, she took this step. Her last rites were performed in the village. Meanwhile, her parents again reached the police station and demanded strict action against the accused. The police have registered a case against the husband and father-in-law under various sections, including dowry harassment, and have started an investigation. State Women’s Commission will work by forming a committee Suresh Tomar, Secretary of the State Women’s Commission, said that cases related to dowry deaths and harassment by husbands or in-laws are constantly coming to light, which is extremely concerning. The commission has also received several such cases where women are not getting timely justice. In many cases, the police delay filing an FIR or prepare an incomplete report, which affects the investigation and justice process. The Commission is now preparing to increase police sensitivity in such cases and analyze shortcomings in investigations. If needed, the Commission will form a committee and also decide what action should be taken against those who are negligent. Additionally, the Commission also wants to work on schemes that can prevent cases like dowry and domestic violence beforehand. MP ranks third in dowry deaths According to NCRB’s 2024 report, 450 cases of dowry death were registered in Madhya Pradesh, including 232 cases under IPC and 218 cases under the new BNS law. This data indicates that dowry harassment is still taking women’s lives after marriage. Madhya Pradesh ranks third in the country for dowry death cases. Only Uttar Pradesh with 2038 and Bihar with 1078 cases have more cases than the state. Now, cases of dowry harassment are also emerging in love marriages in the state. Advocate Abhishek Singh states that in divorce cases filed in love marriages, 35% of the cases involve sections related to dowry harassment. Cruelty by husband or relatives and domestic violence According to the report, 7514 cases of cruelty by husband or in-laws were reported in Madhya Pradesh. Out of these, 4626 cases were registered under IPC and 2888 cases under BNS. This data indicates that crimes like domestic violence, mental harassment, assault, and pressure for dowry are occurring in large numbers in the state. MP ranks seventh in cases of cruelty by husband or relatives. Abetment to suicide 210 cases of abetment to suicide were registered in Madhya Pradesh, including 139 cases under IPC and 71 cases under the new BNS law. This data indicates that circumstances like mental harassment, domestic stress, and social pressure are pushing women towards suicide. Madhya Pradesh ranks seventh in the country for cases of abetment to suicide. More cases than the state have been registered in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Haryana. Crimes related to abortion 6 cases related to abortion were registered in Madhya Pradesh, with 5 under IPC and 1 under BNS. These cases are related to crimes such as forced abortion, causing harm to the fetus, or terminating a pregnancy against a woman’s will. Although the number is small, such crimes have a serious impact on women’s health and rights. MP ranks fifth in women’s crimes According to the report, Madhya Pradesh ranked fifth in women’s crime cases for the fourth consecutive year. Here, 32,832 cases were registered against women. In 2022, 32,765 cases were registered, which decreased to 32,342 in 2023. In 2024, an average of more than 90 crimes related to women were registered every day in the state. MP ranks second in women’s crime by population According to the report, the figures for women’s crime in MP are lower than in 4 states, but if these are viewed based on the number of women in the state, the figures indicate that MP ranks second in women’s crime.