Vadodara : A young woman named Avni, a nurse from Bapod, has accused her mother-in-law of physical and verbal abuse for dowry. The case, which began with demands for money, escalated to violence and threats, forcing Avni to seek help from the police.
Avni, who married Ram Swaroop Kana Ram Choudhary in 2020 against her in-laws' wishes, has alleged that her mother-in-law, Sumitraben, started harassing her soon after moving in with them in January 2024. Sumitraben allegedly demanded Rs. 5 lakh and even physically assaulted Avni when the money was not provided.
Despite Avni giving her Rs. 2 lakh, the demands continued. When Ram tried to intervene, he was attacked with a plastic pipe by Sumitraben. This prompted Avni to call Abhayam, a government helpline for women facing domestic violence.
After Abhayam's intervention, Sumitraben left the house with the Rs. 2 lakh but the harassment continued. Avni's husband and she received threatening calls from Sumitraben's family, who accused them of mistreating her and threatened violence if they visited their village.
Avni has now filed a complaint at the Bapod police station, seeking protection from her in-laws' threats and harassment. The police are investigating the matter further.
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of dowry harassment in India, even in educated families. It also emphasizes the importance of women having access to support systems like Abhayam to deal with such situations.
