A shocking tragedy in Palval, Haryana, has exposed the brutal extent of dowry harassment after a young mother and her infant son were found allegedly strangled to death. The family of the deceased woman has accused her in-laws of subjecting her to prolonged torture for failing to meet their demands, which prominently included an SUV. Following a formal complaint lodged by the victim's family, local law enforcement has registered a comprehensive criminal case against 11 individuals, including the husband, as investigations into the horrific incident move forward.
Marriage in 2023 and Escalating Demands for an SUV
The victim has been identified as 25-year-old Sagufta. According to her father, Yakeen Khan, Sagufta was married to 27-year-old Sohil Khan in the year 2023. The complaint states that shortly after the wedding, members of the marital household began pressing her for additional dowry items. The family claims that the primary bone of contention was a Scorpio SUV that the in-laws were adamant about obtaining. Tensions reportedly escalated severely after Sagufta gave birth to a baby boy, triggering fresh friction over dowry demands. Relatives claim she was physically assaulted by her in-laws, leading to a local panchayat meeting where the aggrieved family allegedly provided an air conditioner and 50,000 rupees in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
The Last Phone Call on August 18
According to the grieving family, Sagufta made a frantic phone call on August 18 to inform them that her husband and in-laws had once again been physically abusing her. Just two days after this distress call, on Thursday, the family received the devastating news that both Sagufta and her month-and-a-half-old son had died. The abrupt and unnatural deaths shattered the maternal family, who immediately rushed to the scene demanding strict accountability and justice for the young mother and her helpless child.
Police Action and Ongoing Investigation
Station House Officer Inspector Hari Kishan of the Sadar police station in Palval stated that the victim's husband has been taken into police custody for questioning. During the initial inspection of the scene, police recovered a dupatta, which investigators suspect was used to strangle the woman. An FIR has been registered against 11 people, encompassing the husband, parents-in-law, siblings, extended relatives, and the village head of Rajpura, under charges including murder, criminal conspiracy, and dowry death. Police are continuing their thorough inquiry to uncover all aspects of the crime.
