Sonjita cries for justice, safety

Sonjita Kar

“They will not let me live. Even after getting evidence, the police are not doing anything. Please save me,” Sonjita Kar, victim of torture by her husband and in-laws, told the journalists at Manikganj Press Club on Wednesday, after her release from Shivalaya Upazila Health Complex.

Sonjita, daughter of Subol Kar of Krishnapur village under Teota union of Shivalaya upazila in Manikganj, is a first year student of Bachelor of Business Studies in Government Devendra College.

Accompanying her brother Dipankar, she came to Manikganj Press Club on Wednesday noon. Her body bore marks of torture and she was shivering in pain.

“Following a love affair, I married neighbour Subrata Mandal on June 2 in 2015 before the court. After a few days, we got married socially with the consent of the two families. My father gave cash and gold ornaments worth about Tk 6 lakh to Subrata as dowry,” said Sonjita.

“Subrata asked me to get more money from my father for doing business. As I did not agree, he started torturing me and his mother, father, brother and sister joined. They threw me out of the house after beating me on October 14 in 2016.

On December 3, Sonjita filed a case against her husband Subrata Mandal, father-in-law Jiban Chandra Mandal, mother-in-law Kiran Rani Mandal, brother-in-law Amrita Chandra Mandal, and sister-in-law Swapna Mandal before the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Manikganj.

“Subrata appeared before the court that sent him to the jail. After release from jail, Subrata threatened me and my family members to withdraw the case.

“On July 15, Subrata took me to his home and he, his mother and sister beat me with sticks. Hearing my scream, locals came to rescue me,” she said.

“A teenager took video footage of this torture on his mobile but Shibalaya police did not agree to take the case even after showing of the 15-minute video,” she alleged.

Sonjita's brother Dipankar alleged that some villagers misled the police after taking money from Subrata.

As this correspondent called Subrata's cell phone, his sister Swapna Mandal received the call but she did not agree to hand over the phone to Subrata.

Contacted, Officer-in-Charge of Shibalaya Police Station Monirul Islam said, “There is no validity of marriage of Subrata and Sonjita. So the dowry issue is not right. The case was not taken as the matter of dowry was added with the complaint. Action will be taken against the accused if a complaint of torture is filed.”

AKM Nurul Huda Rubel, special public prosecutor of Manikganj Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, said police should receive the complaint and take necessary steps, especially if there is evidence of genuineness of the video.