Bettiah: A 30-year-old married woman was found dead under suspicious circumstances in ward no. 3 of the Chanpatia police station area in West Champaran district on Sunday evening, triggering allegations of dowry-related murder. Police have arrested the victim’s husband and father-in-law in connection with the case.The deceased was identified as Renu Devi, wife of Deependra Pandit, a resident of Chanpatia Bazaar. Married in 2018, she hailed from Bhediharwa village under the Sathi police station area.According to the victim’s mother, Shanti Devi, the family received information about the incident around 7pm. “We reached her matrimonial home by 8pm and found the police already there. Her body was lying on a bed inside a room, and a dupatta was hanging from a ceiling hook, which raised suspicion,” she said.While the in-laws claimed that Renu died by suicide, her parents alleged that she was strangled to death and the spot was staged to resemble a case of hanging.In her complaint lodged at Chanpatia police station, Shanti Devi accused her son-in-law Deependra Pandit, father-in-law Rajendra Pandit, and other family members of harassment and murder over dowry demands. She alleged that Renu had been subjected to physical and mental torture since marriage for failing to meet demands of Rs 2–3 lakh and other items, and was also taunted for not having children.The complaint further alleged that Renu was assaulted and killed on the evening of March 29, after which her body was hung to mislead investigators.Chanpatia SHO Amit Kumar said police reached the spot soon after receiving information and sent the body to Govt Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Bettiah, for post-mortem. An FIR has been registered and the husband and father-in-law have been arrested. “The case is under investigation, and further action will be taken based on the post-mortem report and other evidence,” he said.
