NEPALGUNJ, Dec 5: Afsarul Khan, 23, a resident of Fattepur (Piprahawa) village in Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality-7 of Banke, was allegedly killed by her in-laws, according to the family members of her maternal home.

The deceased's father, Mohammad Wahav Khan, a resident of Nepalgunj sub-metropolis ward number 7, suspects foul play after the police termed 'murder' as a 'suicide'.

Afsarul's body was found hanging from a fan in her room on November 2. Mohammad Khan complained that the District Police Office, Banke refused to register a murder case in connection to the suspicious death of his daughter. Although the bereaved father accused the family members of hanging his daughter from a fan, the police refused to register his complaint repeatedly.  

"The police turned me back three times for registering a murder case. When I tried to register the case, the police instead reprimanded me," Khan said, “The fourth time, the police agreed to register a case of inciting suicide.” 

He alleged that the Chief of Banke Police, DSP Shyam Krishna Adhikari did not agree to register the case of attempt to murder. It has been learnt that the police arrested the deceased's husband Meraj Shesh and brother-in-law Alamin Shesh only after the case was formally registered. However, the family alleges that the police released the father-in-law of the deceased without any reason. Khan said that the accused in the incident was also given political protection.

"The police did not register a case for attempt to murder, details of police investigation are incomplete, they have also provided political protection to the criminals in order to cause more pain to the victims," he said. There were marks on the back of the deceased Afsarul. Of the four daughters of Khan, Afsarul is the middle child. She was married to Meraj and gave birth to a son only nine months ago. Khan had spent Rs 2.5 million on his daughter Afsarul's wedding.

He says that the reason behind the daughter's murder is dowry. 

"I spent Rs 2.5 million on my daughter's wedding, I also gave them good dowry, but later my son-in-law and the family members started looking for excuses to abuse my daughter regarding the dowry. I was unaware of that until now," said Khan, adding, "They asked for dowry only after they killed my daughter.'' 

The deceased’s father said that the family members demanded an additional dowry of Rs 200,000 from them. The victim said that the police should thoroughly investigate the incident and file a case of murder.

 
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• Death