Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 10: People and relatives of a woman today blocked the Jammu-Pathankote National Highway near Shastri Nagar demanding arrest of the in-laws for setting the victim ablaze few days back, which led to her death at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) today. However, dowry harassment and abetting suicide case has been registered at Gandhi Nagar police station against the in-laws of the victim including husband.
An irate mob along with the dead body of the deceased woman today disrupted the vehicular movement for around one hour on Jammu-Pathankote National Highway, alleging in-laws for killing the woman by setting her ablaze.
The relatives and the people demanding arrest of the in-laws of the lady blocked the Jammu-Pathankote National Highway leading to long traffic snarls.
One of the relatives while talking to Excelsior told that Asha Devi, daughter of Sham Lal, a resident of Karalia, district Samba was married to an auto driver Jasweer Singh alias Bittu, son of Jeet Raj of Roop Nagar, Digiana some 10 years back. From the wed lock, the couple had three children.
He said that the in-laws use to demand more dowry and severally thrashed and beat the lady several times. Sometimes the lady would go fainted due to sever harassment, he added.
“Few days back, the couple had a tiff over dowry issue and in a fit of rage, husband of the woman set her ablaze and escaped from the spot along with other family members”, he alleged.
“Asha was rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) with serious burn injuries, where she failed to respond to the treatment and succumbed to her burn injuries”, he added.
“We demand immediate arrest of the culprits (in-laws) behind the death of the woman and strict punishment to them so that no one dares to do such things”, he maintained.
On getting information, senior police officials rushed to the spot and pacified the protestors assuring them immediate arrest of the culprits.
On the assurance, the protestors dispersed and the vehicular movement was restored.
As per police sources, father of the victim filed a case against the in-laws of her daughter at Gandhi Nagar police station.
A case under FIR number 99/14 under Section 498 and 306 RPC has been registered against Jasweer Singh, his father Jeet Raj and mother Satya Devi.
“All the accused are at large and raids were being conducted to nab them”, they added.
When contacted SP South told Excelsior the victim in her statement before the Magistrate had held no one responsible for the incident. The victim in her statement stated that the incident had taken place accidentally, SP added.
When asked about the allegation leveled by the family members of the deceased, SP said that the “we are verifying the facts and if we find any foul play, appropriate action will be taken against the accused behind the death of the burn victim”.
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