Warangal: Pregnant woman assaulted, paraded naked on streets

A 20-year old pregnant woman was stripped, assaulted and paraded naked on the streets by relatives of her husband’s first wife in DC Thanda of Wardhannapet on Monday.

Holding her responsible for the husband neglecting his first wife, the relatives paraded her naked on the streets, beat her brutally and even burnt her private parts with a burning piece of wood.

The police and locals came to the rescue of the woman who had bruises and burn marks all over her body, and admitted her to the local hospital. She is undergoing treatment.

The police booked cases against nine people, including her husband and his first wife, Ms Swaroopa.

According to Wardhannapet CI Santhosh, the victim and her husband, a farmer, had a secret wedding in Tirupati in March 2015. The husband was already married to Ms Swaroopa of the same thanda for five years and they also had two children.

After coming to know about his second marriage, Ms Swaroopa fought with him. Since then the husband seldom visited her or cared about the children.

The husband and the victim used to stay in Warangal city. He used to mistreat Ms Swaroopa and his in-laws whenever they questioned him.

Ms Swaroopa sought justice from the village heads and the panchayat had been looking into issue. The husband had said that he would divorce Ms Swaroopa and pay her `7.5 lakh, which he said he wished to give to his children.

During one such panchayat hearing on Monday, there were an exchange of words between the husband and Ms Swaroopa. The victim too joined in and soon a serious fight ensued between the two women.

As the husband tried to stop them, Ms Swaroopa’s relatives started beating him and he fled from the place.

Ms Swaroopa and her relatives then went on to assault the victim mercilessly even as she pleaded them to let her go. She was stripped naked and dragged on the streets.

They found a burning piece of wood nearby and started burning her body until the police reached the spot.

Cases have been booked against nine people and the police has taken Ms Swaroopa and Mr Ravi into custody along with four others. Three others are absconding.