A deeply disturbing incident has emerged from the Bhilai area of Durg district, Chhattisgarh, where a woman was not only subjected to domestic violence by her husband but also given a "triple talaq" by him and his mother-in-law when she failed to provide a motorcycle as dowry.
Marriage of 4 Years Ends in Trauma
The victim, Nusrat Begum (name changed), married Shahid Ali, a resident of Bhilai, in 2021 in a Muslim ceremony. At the time of the wedding, her father, exceeding his means, provided a substantial dowry including cash, gold, and household items. However, the in-laws' greed remained insatiable. Months later, demands for a motorcycle began.
When the victim explained her father's inability to fulfill this demand due to financial constraints, the abuse from her husband and mother-in-law commenced.
Attacked with Scissors, Given Triple Talaq
According to the victim, on Wednesday night, the in-laws renewed their demands for a motorcycle, leading to a heated argument. Her mother-in-law attacked her with kitchen scissors, inflicting a deep wound on her arm. Neighbors arrived after hearing her screams, but her enraged husband declared in front of everyone, "Talaq, Talaq, Talaq... You are no longer my wife," before forcefully throwing her out of the house.
The injured woman managed to reach her parents' home in Bilaspur, from where they admitted her to a hospital.
FIR Filed, Investigation Underway
Following the incident, an FIR was filed by the victim at the Bilaspur Women's Police Station. The case includes charges of dowry harassment, domestic violence, and triple talaq. Legal action is being taken under Section 498A (dowry harassment), Section 324 (causing hurt by dangerous weapons), and the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019. The station house officer reported that the accused husband and his mother are absconding but the police team is conducting raids in Bhilai to apprehend them.
Victim Pleads for Justice, Threatens Suicide
Speaking to reporters from her hospital bed, the victim stated: "I endured everything to save this relationship. But now, I am wounded in body and soul. I want justice; otherwise, I will commit suicide." The Women's Commission and several social organizations have also taken cognizance of the matter and demanded immediate action from the administration.
It is noteworthy that in 2019, the central government criminalized triple talaq, prescribing a three-year jail term for offenders. Despite this, the continued occurrence of such cases demonstrates that the reach of the law has not yet extended to every household.
