In a deeply disturbing case of alleged dowry harassment, a newly married woman from Colonelganj, Kanpur, was hospitalised after being bitten by a snake that her in-laws allegedly released into a locked room. The incident occurred on September 18, and seven members of her husband’s family have now been charged with attempted culpable homicide and other serious offences.
According to the woman’s sister Rizwana, Reshma had been forcibly confined in an unused room of her in-laws’ house. “She was locked in the room and the snake was released through the drain. Late at night, the snake bit Reshma on her leg,” Rizwana said. Her screams reportedly went unanswered as family members mocked her instead of offering help.
Reshma managed to make a phone call to Rizwana, who arrived and found her in a deteriorating state. She was taken to Government Ursala Hospital, where doctors confirmed the snakebite and administered emergency treatment, including anti-venom.
Marriage Marred by Ongoing Dowry Demands
Reshma had married Shahnawaz on March 19, 2021, but according to her sister, problems began almost immediately. The family alleges that Reshma was subjected to relentless verbal harassment and pressure over dowry. Despite the bride’s family providing Rs 1.5 lakh, her in-laws allegedly demanded an additional Rs 5 lakh, which triggered ongoing abuse.
On the night of the incident, the situation took a dark turn. Reshma, reportedly separated from her child, was confined to a room where the snake was introduced through the drainage system. Her condition worsened after the bite, and no one in the household intervened—until Rizwana came to her rescue.
Legal Action and Police Investigation
Acting on Rizwana’s formal complaint, Kanpur police registered a case against Shahnawaz, his parents, his elder brother and sister, along with three others. Inspector Vineet Kumar confirmed the charges include attempted culpable homicide, dowry harassment, and criminal intimidation. Authorities assured a full investigation and strict legal action.
Pattern of Abuse Across States
In a separate but similarly tragic case, a 23-year-old woman in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, reportedly took her own life after enduring dowry-related abuse. According to her family, Sudha had been regularly assaulted by her in-laws for failing to meet dowry expectations. They suspect foul play, alleging she was murdered before being hanged to simulate suicide.
“Sudha was subjected to constant torture for not bringing sufficient dowry,” her relatives told the Free Press Journal, pressing for a deeper investigation.
Wider Implications and Societal Response
The horrific nature of Reshma’s case has prompted public outrage, with calls for urgent reform and better enforcement of anti-dowry laws. As The Logical Indian notes, “This deeply troubling incident exposes the brutal consequences of dowry harassment, a social evil still prevalent in our society. It stresses the urgent need for stronger enforcement of laws and community awareness to protect women from such violence.”
Women’s rights advocates argue that these incidents should not be seen in isolation but as part of a broader, systemic failure to protect vulnerable individuals from domestic abuse and extortionate dowry demands.
