KATHMANDU, Aug 22: A woman has been found dead under suspicious circumstances in Mahottari. The deceased is 20-year-old Rina Devi Rai from Ramoul, Ward 8 of Jaleshwar Municipality in Mahottari.
The family of Rina, who was married on May 1, has accused her in-laws of murdering her for not bringing enough dowry.
Rina’s family has accused her husband, Rohan Kumar Raut, and his family of murdering Rina at 1AM on Tuesday night in what appears to be a case of dowry violence.
Newly-wed bride ruthlessly beaten for not bringing dowry
Rina’s family reported to the police that her in-laws said she had died suddenly due to illness. When the police arrived, they found Rina's body on the veranda of the house, according to the Mahottari police.
According to the police, her husband Rohan claimed that after having dinner together and going to bed, Rina suddenly fell ill. He said he took her to the Regional Hospital in Jaleshwar for treatment, and after she died there, he brought the body back home, as stated in his statement given to the police.
On the other hand, Rina's family claims that when they arrived, they observed that her mouth was bleeding and there were bruises on her neck, leading them to believe that she had been murdered. Rina had returned to her in-laws' house only on Tuesday after visiting her parental home.
Her body has been sent to the Regional Hospital in Janakpur for an autopsy.
Rina, from Sonigama, Ward 6 of Hanspur Municipality in Dhanusha, was married to Rohan on May 1 according to social customs. Her father, Nawal Rai, mentioned that the family spent a total of Rs 1.5 million on the wedding, including expenses for clothes, utensils, furniture, gold, silver jewelry, and cash.
Although Rina’s married life was initially going well, Nawal Rai stated that recently, Rina's husband Rohan and his family had been continually quarreling, beating, and torturing her, demanding additional dowry.
