Woman tortured to death over dowry

 

By Sagaya Fernando | June 15, 2025

Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA: In a shocking incident that has sparked outrage, a 32-year-old woman was allegedly tortured and killed by her in-laws in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, reportedly over unmet dowry demands. Authorities in Aligarh district confirmed that an investigation is underway, with several suspects currently at large.

The victim, Sangita, was married for nearly a decade to Bunty Kumar, a resident of Bhanupura village. The couple have two young sons. According to her family, Sangita was subjected to routine abuse after her in-laws began demanding additional dowry, specifically a Bullet motorcycle and a buffalo.

Speaking to local media, Sangita’s mother stated that the first year of marriage appeared normal. However, things took a dark turn when Bunty and his family began pressuring her daughter for further dowry items. The abuse reportedly escalated when the family failed to meet the demands. “They used to beat her and threaten to kill her if we didn’t bring what they asked,” she said.

On June 10, Sangita was allegedly beaten and then burned with a hot iron, including on intimate parts of her body, in what investigators are calling a horrific act of domestic violence. Disturbing video evidence reportedly shows severe burn marks across her body. Sangita succumbed to her injuries on the spot.

Circle Officer Dhananjay Singh, who is leading the investigation, confirmed that police were alerted shortly after the incident. “We took the body into custody and sent it for post-mortem examination. However, since the autopsy did not yield a definitive cause of death, we have preserved the viscera for further forensic analysis,” he said.

Despite the nature of the incident and the family’s repeated claims regarding dowry harassment, local police have registered the case as murder rather than dowry death, which has sparked criticism from women’s rights advocates.

A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against five members of Bunty Kumar’s family, including his parents and two sisters. All suspects are currently missing, and their residence has been found locked. Police teams have launched a manhunt to trace them.

India’s dowry system, though officially outlawed, remains a pervasive social issue. This latest case underscores the ongoing challenges in protecting women from dowry-related abuse and ensuring timely justice.

As of now, further forensic tests are pending, and investigations continue.