In-laws on the run as housewife ‘strangled to death’ over dowry in Chapainawabganj

There were several injury marks on the neck and chin, police say

A 20-year-old housewife has allegedly been strangled to death following a series of domestic violence over dowry in Shibganj Upazila of Chapainawabganj, according to police and her family.

Her husband and in-laws went into hiding after her body was recovered in Salampur village on Tuesday morning, said Shibganj Police chief Humayun Kabir.

The victim Sumaiya Akter Jamila was the wife of Ripon Ali.

Bruises were found around her neck and chin after police recovered the body that was lying on the front yard of Rion’s house.

Her mother Runa Begum filed a written complaint against six people including Ripon.

Since the wedding on Oct 30 last year, Ripon and his family members had been physically and mentally torturing Sumaiya, demanding a dowry of Tk 300,000, Runa alleged.

Ripon took Sumaiya from her father's house to his residence on Monday night, she said, adding that Ripon's father Mahabur Rahman called her on Tuesday morning and reported Sumaiya's illness.

Once there, Runa said she found Sumaiya lying on a bed motionless, according to the complaint.

However, Sub-Inspector Jahangir Alam said they discovered the body in the courtyard of the house after they rushed there around 10am.

There were several marks of injury on the neck and chin, he added.

The body was sent to the morgue of the District Sadar Hospital for a postmortem, said Humayun, pledging next course of legal procedures.