Woman Found Hanging in Patnagarh, Family Alleges Dowry Murder
A woman was found hanging in Patnagarh, Bolangir, with her father alleging dowry-related murder and police detaining her husband and sister-in-law.
A woman from Patnagarh in Bolangir district was found hanging inside her residence near Block Chowk on Saturday. Her father alleges she was murdered over dowry demands, stating she faced regular torture and verbal abuse from her husband and his family. Police have detained the husband and his sister-in-law for questioning and deployed a forensic scientific team to investigate the scene, registering an Unnatural Death (UD) case. A post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. The body was identified as Sumanti Chand, married to Omkarnath Thakur from the Patnagarh area.
Patnagarh, located in Bolangir district, is known as the former Patna princely capital and a hub of Kosali culture, home to sites such as the Ranipur-Jharial 64 Yogini shrine and the Pataneswari temple.
The woman had been married for nearly four years, according to her father. Her family stated that she endured regular torture and verbal abuse from her husband and his relatives. The incident occurred inside a house near Block Chowk. The father recounted that his daughter called his wife yesterday evening at 05:06 pm saying that her husband and in-laws were again torturing her and threatening to kill her, and later he received another call informing them that she had killed herself.
What did the victim's father allege?
He alleged that his daughter was tortured over dowry demands and subsequently killed. "They tortured my daughter for dowry, and they were abusing her. They killed my daughter. My daughter was married to Omkarnath Thakur from Bolangir's Patnagarh area. It has been nearly four years since they got married.""My daughter called my wife yesterday evening at 05:06 pm saying that her husband and in-laws were again torturing her and threatening to kill her. Later I received another call where we were told that she killed herself."\n\n## What steps have police taken? Police took the husband and sister-in-law into custody for questioning and deployed a forensic scientific team to investigate the scene. "A woman named Sumanti Chand was found dead in the Patnagarh area. She died within three years of marriage. The police filed an Unnatural Death, UD, case into it and visited the Collector to collect permission for conducting an investigation into it.""The body was recovered and examined in my presence. The exact cause of death would be established after post-mortem."\nThey registered an Unnatural Death (UD) case and will conduct a post-mortem to determine the cause of death. \nThe exact cause of death will be established after the post-mortem examination, as stated by officials.
Who was the woman found hanging in Patnagarh?
Sumanti Chand.
Where was the woman's body found?
Inside a house near Block Chowk in Patnagarh, Bolangir district.
What did the victim's father allege regarding her death?
He alleged that she was tortured over dowry demands and subsequently killed by her husband and in-laws.
Who have police detained in connection with the case?
The husband, Omkarnath Thakur, and his sister-in-law.
What case have police registered regarding the death?
Police have registered an Unnatural Death (UD) case.
What will determine the exact cause of death?
A post-mortem examination will establish the exact cause of death.
When did the victim call her mother according to her father?
She called his wife at 05:06 pm on Saturday.
What did the victim say during that call?
She said her husband and in-laws were torturing her and threatening to kill her.
What additional information did the father provide about the marriage duration?
He said she had been married to Omkarnath Thakur for nearly four years.
What actions did police take at the scene?
Police detained the husband and sister-in-law for questioning and deployed a forensic scientific team to investigate the scene.
Suresh Sahu
Senior District Correspondent, Balangir
Suresh Sahu has reported on Balangir district for the Mirror since 2020, focusing on drought-relief policy, health infrastructure, and district politics.
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