NEW DELHI: Dowry deaths are not new in India, where exchange of large amounts of cash and jewelry, besides other things like cars and house-hold items is a well entrenched tradition almost universally throughout the country. But this case in the country's national capital was shocking, where a woman was pushed down by her husband to her death from the roof of the building they used to live in because she was unable to get more dowry along with her. Delhi police have arrested the husband and two other members of his family. Shockingly, Farzana, had delivered a baby just three months ago and the inhuman act of her husband and his family members have now left the baby mother-less. She was pushed down from her husband's family house in the walled old city area of Delhi in the wee hours of Saturday. According to a Delhi police officer familiar with the investigation of the case, Farzana's husband, Javed (28) and his family members were pressurizing her to demand money from her family to enable them buy a new apartment. The deceased Farzana's sister Tahira, lodged a complaint with the police, containing this and other relevant information alleging that her husband's family, in a bid to pressurize her to bring money from her father, used to torture and harass her. Javed and his family however claim innocence and suggest that Farzana committed suicide. Farzana and Javed had married about 18 months ago, but the demands for dowry from her in-laws began within a few months, the police officer said on the basis of her sister's complaint. Under Indian criminal laws, irrespective of the nature of the case, it is mandatory for a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) to conduct an independent inquiry if a woman dies within seven years of marriage. In Farzana's case, the magisterial inquiry has already been initiated, according to police officials.
