Tension escalated at the Police Commissionerate in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday when a married woman, accompanied by her father and brother, staged a dramatic protest and threatened self-immolation. She alleged that her husband and in-laws have been subjecting her to severe physical and mental torture since their marriage. The victim accused her in-laws of demanding heavy dowry, assaulting her, and forcing her to participate in occult rituals conducted late at night. According to the woman, she was forced to take this extreme step at the top police official's office due to perceived inaction by local police despite a registered police complaint.
Dowry Demands and Allegations of Occult Rituals
According to details shared by the woman's father, his daughter was married on 16 March 2024 to a family with political connections residing in Pandu Nagar, Kanpur. The father stated that they had spent a substantial amount of money according to their capacity during the wedding ceremony. However, shortly after the marriage, the in-laws allegedly began harassing the woman with demands for additional dowry.
The victim alleged that her husband and father-in-law repeatedly pressured her to bring 1 kg of gold, expensive furniture, and a separate house. When she and her parental family expressed their inability to meet these demands, she was allegedly subjected to physical abuse and mental harassment. She claimed that the mistreatment escalated over time as the demands remained unfulfilled.
In addition to dowry harassment, the victim leveled disturbing allegations regarding occult practices taking place inside her marital home. She claimed that occult rituals were routinely conducted at night, and she was repeatedly forced to take part in them. When she resisted participating in these practices, she was allegedly beaten up. She further alleged that her clothes were torn, she was insulted, and she was forcibly locked inside a room for prolonged periods.
Foreign Trip to Indonesia and Attempt on Life
The victim further disclosed that the harassment was not restricted to their residence in Kanpur. She claimed that her husband took her on an overseas trip to Indonesia, where similar occult-related activities were allegedly performed around her against her will. The situation did not improve upon their return to India.
According to the woman, another instance of occult practices took place at the house on 21 January 2025. When she strongly protested against the rituals, her in-laws allegedly threatened to kill her. She claimed that an attempt was even made to end her life by trying to hang her from a ceiling fan. Following this traumatic incident, she managed to inform her parental family about the ordeal.
FIR Registered in March 2026 and Frustration Over Police Delay
Unable to endure the ongoing abuse and fearing for her life, the woman and her family decided to initiate legal proceedings. On 29 March 2026, an official FIR was lodged against her husband, father-in-law, and other family members at the local Mahila Thana. The investigation of the case was subsequently assigned to Panki Inspector Dinesh Singh Bisht.
However, the victim expressed deep dissatisfaction with the pace of the investigation, alleging that little progress had been made in the months following the registration of the FIR. She claimed that despite clear allegations, the police had failed to take decisive action against the accused. Feeling helpless due to the lack of movement in the investigation, she decided to approach the Police Commissioner directly.
Police Deployment at Commissionerate and Official Assurance
The sudden arrival of the woman and her family at the Commissionerate, along with her self-immolation threat, triggered widespread panic among administrative personnel. Sensing the urgency of the situation, police contingents from multiple stations, including Sachendi, Kotwali, and Mahila Thana, were dispatched to the site to prevent any untoward incident.
Although female police personnel attempted to pacify the woman, she remained firm on her demand to meet the Police Commissioner in person. After significant effort, police officials arranged a meeting between the victim, her father, and the Police Commissioner. The commissioner listened to her grievances, reviewed the documents related to the previously registered FIR, and assured her of a fair and objective investigation.
Following the commissioner's assurance of lawful action against those found guilty, the woman agreed to call off her immediate protest. However, she warned that if she does not receive prompt justice, she will march to the Chief Minister Office to carry out her threat of self-immolation. Police authorities confirmed that the investigation is actively progressing based on the FIR and available evidence.
