Silchar: A woman in Cachar district, southern Assam, was allegedly burnt to death by her husband earlier this week for not being able to give birth to a male child. The victim, Mahzabin Laskar, was married to Rukon Uddin Barbhuiya, who was arrested by police on Wednesday.
Mahzabin, the daughter of Jamal Uddin Laskar from PHE Road, Madhurbond in Silchar, had married Rukon on July 23, 2020. According to her father, Jamal, the couple had their first child, a daughter, a year after the marriage. Rukon, however, wanted a male child and allegedly began physically and mentally torturing Mahzabin after the birth of their daughter.
Unable to bear the abuse, Mahzabin returned to her parents’ house. Rukon and his family members later convinced her parents that he would not harm her again, after which she returned to her husband’s home. Mahzabin gave birth to two more daughters, after which the abuse allegedly resumed.
Jamal alleged that Rukon’s family had suggested he marry another woman to have a male child. When Mahzabin objected, the abuse escalated.
On Tuesday morning, Jamal received a call from Rukon’s family, informing him that Mahzabin was critically injured in a gas cylinder explosion and had been admitted to Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH). However, when Jamal, his wife Laila Begum Laskar, and their younger daughter Nourin Laskar reached the hospital, they found Mahzabin’s body abandoned in the emergency ward, with no sign of Rukon or his family.
Jamal reported the matter to the police, who sent the body for an autopsy. After the burial later that evening, Jamal lodged an FIR at Silchar Sadar police station, accusing Rukon of burning Mahzabin to death. Police launched an investigation and arrested Rukon on Wednesday.
Also Read: Nagaland: NSF demands AFSPA repeal after SC ruling on Oting killings