TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Maina-Curtorim police have registered a case against Patorciana Fernandes from Gounloy, Nuvem, for allegedly harassing and subjecting her daughter-in-law, Samanta Fernandes, to cruelty over dowry demands. Samanta succumbed to burn injuries at Goa Medical College on August 30 this year.
The offence was registered by PSI Praful Giri on November 30, based on a court order from the Deputy Collector and Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Salcete. The case has been registered under Section 304-B of the IPC. The accused, Patorciana Fernandes, has been booked for subjecting her daughter-in-law Samanta Fernandes, 30, to cruelty and harassment, leading to Samanta’s death because of burns. Maina-Curtorim Police registered the case, and as of now, no arrests have been made.
It may be recalled that Samanta’s mother Ana Maria Dias, a resident of Sao Jose De Areal, had petitioned the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and the Director General of Police (DGP), urging the arrest of her daughter’s mother-in-law for dowry harassment, mental torture, and murder.
She demanded a new autopsy on her daughter’s body with a new panel of doctors.
A copy of the complaint was then submitted to the Maina-Curtorim police station, accusing the mother-in-law of dowry harassment, domestic violence, and the murder of her daughter.
Ana Maria Dias claimed that her daughter had called her on August 29, expressing her inability to bear the harassment from her mother-in-law.
“A heated argument had taken place between Samanta and her mother-in-law at their residence in Nuvem, as the latter was demanding dowry. The argument turned into a fight, and Samanta, in self-defence, allegedly pushed her mother-in-law, who then set Samanta on fire,” Dias alleged in her petition.
PSI Giri stated that a thorough investigation would be completed, and appropriate action would be taken.
