Woman kills self as in-laws refuse to take old currency in Orissa

Bhubaneswar: A newly-married woman on Sunday evening committed suicide by hanging herself after allegedly being tortured by her in-laws as her father delayed to pay the promised Rs 1.70 lakh dowry because of the demonetisation.

According to reports, Prabhasini (20), the daughter of Shiba Mandal of Rangipur Badasahi village under Golanthara police limits, and Laxmi Nahak of the same village were into relationship for the past few years. The duo married on November 9, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

It was agreed during the marriage negotiations that they bride’s family would pay Rs 1.70 lakh dowry. Accordingly, by November 7 Shiba Mandal had arranged the money from different sources, including his bank savings and loans from relatives.

Since the money Shiba had arranged were in the denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and came under the category of scrapped currencies the groom’s parents refused to accept them. With no other options left, Shiba sought some time to exchange the scrapped notes but failed to do so.

On Sunday evening, the victim’s family was informed that Prabhasini had committed suicide. The deceased’s family on Monday filed a complaint of dowry torture and killing at Golanthara police station.