Police in Silchar have arrested a husband and sister-in-law in connection with the suspicious death of a woman, revealing concerns around prolonged dowry-related abuse that may have led to her murder. The arrests took place in Barabari village under the jurisdiction of the Ratabari police station. The woman, identified as Puja Mishra, died under dubious circumstances earlier this month, prompting law enforcement to detain her husband, Santosh Mishra, and his sister, Gauribala Mishra, after new evidence emerged during the investigation.
A police team, led by sub-inspector Kalyan Barman from the Nivia police outpost, executed the arrests. Following thorough questioning, both suspects were presented in local court and placed in judicial custody. Authorities indicated that Puja had experienced persistent physical and emotional abuse related to dowry demands over an extended period prior to her death. Witnesses reported that on the night before her death, Puja was chased and assaulted in a nearby paddy field.
Investigators have obtained details regarding the movements of the accused that night and revealed that several injury marks on Puja’s body are inconsistent with her reported suicide. “The nature of the injuries raises serious doubts. Autopsy and forensic analysis will be critical in determining the sequence of events,” noted a senior police officer.
Puja, who resided in the Moniarkhal tea estate area of Cachar district, had been married to Santosh Mishra for approximately four years. Her family claims that dowry-related harassment began soon after their marriage, and at one point, the abuse compelled her to seek refuge at her parental home due to severe injuries. She returned to her in-laws after receiving assurances that the mistreatment would cease.
On January 1, Puja’s family received notification that she had died by suicide. When relatives arrived at the home, they observed multiple injuries on her body, heightening suspicions surrounding her death. Local residents indicated that tensions ran high at the home on the night of the incident, with loud arguing and screams reported late into the night.
Following a formal complaint lodged by Puja’s brother, Pavan Mishra, police recovered her body and sent it for an autopsy. A case of planned murder has been filed at the Ratabari police station against seven members of her in-laws’ family, including the husband and sister-in-law. Authorities are reportedly scrutinizing the involvement of the other accused listed in the First Information Report (FIR). They are also reviewing mobile call records and other evidentiary materials to establish who was present in the house at the time of the incident. Police have indicated that additional arrests may occur as their investigation continues.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/hubby-sister-in-law-held-over-sribhumi-womans-death-dowry-related-abuse-suspected/articleshow/126415561.cms
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-01-08 18:24:00
