A tragic case of dowry-related violence has emerged from Dhardha village in Bihar’s Jamui district. A 30-year-old woman, Aradhana Kumari, was allegedly murdered by her husband and in-laws after enduring years of dowry harassment. The incident took place late on a Saturday night, with the victim’s four-year-old daughter witnessing the horrific crime.
The Brutal Crime and Attempts to Stage Suicide
Aradhana Kumari was married to Baban Kumar Rawat, a police officer in Bihar. According to reports, Aradhana’s husband, along with his parents, sister, and nephew, physically assaulted her before strangling her to death. After the crime, the accused allegedly tried to stage her death as a suicide. They reportedly placed her body on the bed and fled the scene, hoping to avoid suspicion.
The body was later sent for a post-mortem examination, and an investigation into the crime is ongoing. The police have begun collecting evidence, and efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects.
The Harrowing Testimony of a Four-Year-Old
A key witness in this chilling case is Aradhana’s four-year-old daughter, Srishti, who provided a heart-wrenching account of what she had witnessed. In a statement to the police, Srishti said, “My father, grandfather, grandmother, aunt, and brother beat my mother with sticks. Then they strangled her. When she fell, they laid her on the bed and ran away.”
Her testimony has been crucial in shedding light on the brutal nature of the crime, which had previously been made to look like a suicide by the accused.
History of Dowry Harassment
Aradhana’s family revealed that the 30-year-old woman had been subjected to continuous dowry harassment since her marriage in 2014. According to her mother, despite fulfilling all the dowry demands at the time of marriage, the harassment worsened after Baban Kumar Rawat secured a government job. The family was allegedly asked to pay Rs 15 lakh in cash and provide a Scorpio car. When they were unable to meet these demands, the abuse escalated, culminating in Aradhana’s tragic death.
Her brother, Rajiv Rawat, shared that his sister had called him earlier that morning to report an assault. However, by the time he reached her house with the police, it was too late. The house was empty, and Aradhana had already passed away.
Police Investigation and Arrests
Following the incident, the police began their investigation into the murder. Barhat Police Station Officer Kumar Sanjeev confirmed that one arrest had been made—Aradhana’s father-in-law. He added that the body had been sent for an autopsy and that raids were ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the crime.
A Widespread Issue of Dowry Violence in Bihar
This horrific case highlights the persistent issue of dowry-related violence in Bihar, despite the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961, which criminalizes dowry demands and dowry deaths. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveals that Bihar continues to report one of the highest rates of dowry deaths in India each year. The case has once again raised concerns about the effectiveness of existing laws and the need for stronger enforcement to curb such crimes.
The brutal murder of Aradhana Kumari is a stark reminder of the deep-rooted problem of dowry violence in India. It serves as a tragic example of how women continue to suffer from dowry demands, even as the fight against such practices remains ongoing.
