32-year-old nurse Parul set ablaze by husband and in-laws. (Photo: Shutterstock and Canva)
Just a few days ago, the brutal killing of 26-year-old Nikki Bhati in Greater Noida, another case of dowry related violence has come to light in Uttar Pradesh. A 32-year-old nurse Parul was allegedly burned alive by her husband and in-laws in Amroha district, and now she is fighting for her life with critical burn injuries.
As stated by police, the attack happened at the family’s residence in Narangpur village, where Parul faced observed violence after her continued refusal to meet the dowry demands of her family was not met. Her husband, Devendra, a serving Uttar Pradesh Police constable, was most recently posted to Bareilly and is one of six accused in the case. The remaining persons mentioned in the case are Devendra’s mother and four other male relatives; Sonu, Gajesh, Jitendra, Santosh.
Police said that a case has been filed under the charges of domestic violence and attempted murder. “All six accused are absconding. Search operation is in progress,” officials added.
Anita, Parul’s mother, described the gruesome scene. “When I arrived, my daughter was crying in pain, severely burnt. She was taken to a local hospital and then got a referral to Delhi because of her critical condition,” she explained. Parul had married Devendra 13 years ago, and the couple has twin children, a boy and a girl.
This horrific incident comes hot on the heels of the murder of Nikki Bhati in Greater Noida. Nikki, who had married into the Bhati family since 2016, was reportedly set afire by her husband Vipin and in-laws following incessant dowry demands. Even though her family gave a car earlier, the dowry demands went up to almost ₹36 lakh. Her six-year-old son is said to have wept for help as her sister Kanchan, married into the same family, filmed the assault.
In a shocking discovery, Vipin had shared smiling photos with his wife and son on Instagram only hours prior to his arrest. When questioned, he allegedly brushed aside the offence, stating, “Wife and husband fights are very natural.”
The Uttar Pradesh cases indicate a disturbing national pattern. In Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district, 23-year-old Khushboo narrowly avoided being killed after her husband bound her, tortured her, and applied a hot knife to her body due to unrecovered dowry demands. She suffered deep burn wounds, including inside her mouth, after her husband allegedly inserted the knife into it.
Similar case happened In Telangana, 33-year-old Lakshmi Prasanna of Khammam district suffered brutal violence from her husband and in-laws for years. They confined her to a room, did not give her food, and beat her. Lakshmi was finally admitted to a hospital in East Godavari district, but ultimately died a week ago.
Even while some dowry laws are enforced strictly, harassment, torture and deaths still occur in some states, revealing the dogged patriarchal thinking which classifies women as economic liability. Experts think further police-related deterrence action, social awakening, and systemic reform are required to counteract the nuisance.
ALSO READ: How Violence Becomes ‘Love’: The Dangerous Normalisation Of Patriarchy In Indian Homes | Analysis
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
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