Dowry death suspected in Singtam

GANGTOK, 27 Sept: The Singtam police has charged one person on grounds of dowry related death. Pradeep Kumar Gupta of Gangtok has been booked under section 304 ‘B’ of the IPC which accuses him of having led his deceased wife to commit suicide. The wife had been found at the Rani Khola below Mangthang and a case of unnatural death had been registered at that time. A magisterial inquiry was conducted as the death had occurred within 7 years of marriage, an incident, which given the high number of dowry deaths in our country, automatically attracts a magisterial inquiry.
Following investigation into the case, the police uncovered that there had been numerous demands for money by the husband made to his in-laws. The deceased was originally from Biratnagar, Nepal and had married the accused in 2008. However, differences appeared in the marriage with the husband reportedly demanding dowry. Some of his demands had also been met, it is informed. However the frequent demands from the husband and the subsequent mental harassment had led to the death of the wife, the police investigation concluded.
Section 304 B states “Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her marriage and it is shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, such death shall be called "dowry death", and such husband or relative shall be deemed to have caused her death.” The punishment, for the guilty, is imprisonment for not less than 7 years.

Husband arrested on charges of ‘dowry death’ in Deorali housewife suicide case

GANGTOK, 12 March: The Sadar police has arrested the husband in the reported case of suicide by a housewife at Deorali on 08 March. The woman, as earlier reported, had hanged herself at her home at Deorali, Gangtok. However, soon after the death, her brother, Rajib Kalowar, of Coochbehar, had alleged that the victim had suffered persistent mental and physical torture by the husband, Rajen Kumar Gupta, and contended that either his sister had been driven to suicide or murdered and the death made to appear like a suicide.
While at that time [the brother had raised the allegations of 10 March], the police had registered a General Diary entry of the complaint, today, the Sadar police converted the case into a criminal one and arrested the husband, who owns a shop at Deorali School Road, after the brother lodged a formal FIR.
Mr. Kalowar contends that his sister’s body bore extensive injury marks, signs of recent beating, and goes on to allege that she had been consistently subjected to mental tension and physical torture by her husband and in-laws right since the early days of her marriage. Citing the past history and signs of recent beating as evidence, he has alleged that either his sister was driven to commit suicide by her husband and in-laws or murdered by them and the death made to look like a suicide. In this regard it is informed that an inquest has been performed on the deceased and the report is awaited which, it is opined, will present a clearer picture.
As of now, the police has charged the husband under section 304 ‘B’ IPC which deals with death of a woman due to other than normal circumstances within 7 years of her marriage and includes death caused by any burns or bodily injuries within the 7 years and it is shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or in- laws. This section largely pertains to ‘dowry death’ and in case of death of the woman under such circumstances as stated above, such deaths, as per the Indian Penal Code, shall be called ‘Dowry death’. The punishment for such death is imprisonment for a term not less than 7 years.
As mentioned earlier, the police has sought an inquest by the Magistrate and the autopsy report is awaited.