Suicide or murder? Sati mystery
CNN-IBN
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Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh (India):
A bizarre controversy has erupted over the death of a woman in the Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
Thirty-eight-year old Vidayawati was burnt to death when she reportedly jumped into the funeral pyre of her husband last Thursday.
After the initial reports of a forced Sati, some villagers alleged Vidyawati had voluntarily jumped into the pyre and that it was a case of suicide.
The district police, too, ruled out Sati and did not lodge a complaint when the incident was reported.
However, the tale took a bizarre turn when the district administration lodged a case of murder against Vidyawati's brothers-in-law Vishal and Kartar, hinting foul play.
The police also registered a case of provoking for suicide under Section 306 of Indian Penal Code against 200 villagers present at the cremation venue.
"We have arrested the two brother-in-laws of the woman and registered a case of murder against them," Fatehpur's District Magistrate Girdhari Lal said.
Women's organisations, too, smelt a rat and forced the police to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) against the villagers allegedly involved in the case.
"She did not commit suicide. People threw her in the pyre and it reflects administrations laxity," Member, Congress Women Wing Fatehpur Santoshi Shukla said.
However, eyewitnesses told police that one of Vidyawati’s relatives did make an attempt to pull her out, but failed to do so, and she was consumed by fire before the eyes of scores of villagers.
May 22, 2006
CNN-IBN
_______
Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh (India):
A bizarre controversy has erupted over the death of a woman in the Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
Thirty-eight-year old Vidayawati was burnt to death when she reportedly jumped into the funeral pyre of her husband last Thursday.
After the initial reports of a forced Sati, some villagers alleged Vidyawati had voluntarily jumped into the pyre and that it was a case of suicide.
The district police, too, ruled out Sati and did not lodge a complaint when the incident was reported.
However, the tale took a bizarre turn when the district administration lodged a case of murder against Vidyawati's brothers-in-law Vishal and Kartar, hinting foul play.
The police also registered a case of provoking for suicide under Section 306 of Indian Penal Code against 200 villagers present at the cremation venue.
"We have arrested the two brother-in-laws of the woman and registered a case of murder against them," Fatehpur's District Magistrate Girdhari Lal said.
Women's organisations, too, smelt a rat and forced the police to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) against the villagers allegedly involved in the case.
"She did not commit suicide. People threw her in the pyre and it reflects administrations laxity," Member, Congress Women Wing Fatehpur Santoshi Shukla said.
However, eyewitnesses told police that one of Vidyawati’s relatives did make an attempt to pull her out, but failed to do so, and she was consumed by fire before the eyes of scores of villagers.
May 22, 2006
