Team Herald
MARGAO: A woman from Malkarne died fighting for life after she consumed pesticide, tired of the harassment by her in laws demanding that the Ladli Laxmi money be given to them.
Vanita Gaonkar aged 23 breathed her last on Friday at GMC after a fight for several days.
Quepem police have registered a case of unnatural death but the President of NGO Savera, Tara Kerkar, has demanded that an offence for demand of dowry, harassment of newly married woman and making the family responsible for the death be registered against her father-in-law Ganesh Gaonkar, husband Videsh Gaonkar and others.
According to information provided by Kerkar, Vanita had married Videsh a year ago and was staying at Malkarne. She had applied for the Ladli Laxmi scheme and had got the Rs 1 lakh approved. But her brother borrowed the money to pay back loans he took from self help groups and other sources.
Ganesh Gaonkar, had demanded half the amount from the Rs 1 lakh. Huge fights erupted between the families after Vanita’s brother showed willingness to give the remaining Rs 20 thousand. The fights escalated and the father-in-law got in arguments with Vanita.
Tired of the fights and problems Vanita on September 18 consumed pesticide and attempted suicide. She was taken to Hospicio Hospital and then to GMC.
“We demand immediate arrest of the family members and because she died before completing six years of marriage there needs to be an independent magisterial inquiry into the matter,” Kerkar demanded. The father-in-law’s statement was taken by the Deputy Collector on Friday.
