FIR filed over mother-in-law’s fire attack

AHMEDABAD: A 31-year-old woman from Talod town of Sabarkantha on Tuesday filed an FIR with Krishnanagar police stating that when she had overslept one day a year ago, her mother-in-law had poured kerosene on her and had tried to burn her.

The woman had suffered severe burns but had to keep mum because her father-in-law had threatened to harm her if she complained. Eventually, her father explained the legal remedies available to her and she filed a petition in the Gujarat high court, which directed police to take action. Finally, the woman filed a complaint with Krishanagar police against her mother-in-law, Ratan Jaiswal, and her father-in-law, Lalluram Jaiswal.

Sunita, 31, a resident of Kaharnagar in Talod taluka of Sabarkantha, married Shailendra Jaiswal, a resident of Parshwanath Society in Naroda, on December 10, 2006. She gave birth to three daughters; they are aged 11, five, and three.

Sunita stated in her FIR that her husband’s family comprises 21 members and she used to complete every household task that was given to her. “On April 30, Sunita woke up late as she had been at a hospital attending to her youngest daughter. Ratan began abusing her,” the FIR said. “Ratan also abused Sunita’s parents and when Sunita objected, Lalluram thrashed Sunita. Shailendra rescued Sunita.”

Later on the same day, when Sunita was sleeping, Ratan poured kerosene on her and threw a lit matchstick on her. Sunita’s clothes were burnt completely and she hid inside a bathroom. Shailendra took her to hospital. At the hospital, Lalluram warned Sunita against making a complaint. So when cops asked her about her burns, she told them that she had intentionally splashed boiling milk on herself. She was in hosptial for four months after which she told her father about the attack. Krishnanagar police has registered a case of attempt to murder, domestic violence, criminal intimidation and abetment.