Third dowry death in four days
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Aug 2 — Jaswinder Kaur (20) ended her life by consuming poison at Kot Shamir village, 15 km from here yesterday following harassment by her in-laws.

Police sources said that a case under Section 304-B and 498-A had been registered against Randhir Singh, husband and Amarjit Kaur, mother-in-law of the deceased at the Sadar police station here. The accused were absconding and police parties had launched a hunt to nab them, according to Mr A.S. Chahal, SP (H).

This is the third such incident in the region in the last four days. Sukhwinder Kaur of village Khak Kalyan in Faridkot district ended her life three days ago after repeated harassment by her father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law for bringing insufficient dowry. She hanged herself from the ceiling with her "chunni".

On July 27 Amarjit Kaur was allegedly poisoned to death in Joga village, (Mansa) by her in-laws when their demand for more dowry was not met by the parents of the deceased.

Jaswinder Kaur, who died yesterday, had been married for only two months. She belonged to Sanghera village in Sangrur district.

According to the statement of her father, the deceased was harassed by her husband and mother-in-law to get her to bring an additional Rs 50,000 from her parents as dowry. He alleged that when their demands were not met, she was "forced to kill herself".

Police sources said Jaswinder Kaur died yesterday morning and her parents came to know of it at noon. Her relatives informed the police.

Dr Vineeta Gupta, Member, National Council, People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), while talking to TNS alleged that no ice slabs were placed under the dead body until 2 am although the body was received at around 7 pm by the civil hospital authorities.

She alleged that the doctor on duty asked relatives of the deceased to bring the necessary items for conducting a post mortem of dead body although this was illegal.

Dr Jugraj Singh, SMO, when contacted said that a doctor who had not conducted the post mortem by absenting himself would be dealt with as per department rules and regulation. He had also sought an explanation from the doctor.

Civil hospital sources said a two- member panel of doctors had been constituted for conducting a post mortem on the body, which started at about 12.30 pm today.

Police sources said, there were injury marks on the body and the deceased appeared to have been severely beaten on the day of her death.

Meanwhile, relatives of the deceased have also demanded an action against the doctor who deliberately delayed the post mortem by absenting himself from duty.