Inhuman in-laws

In-laws have tortured a housewife for dowry and videotaped the incident in Rupganj upazila.

A loop made of shoes was also hung around the neck of Salma Akhter Sumi, 32, whose hair was cut to further humiliate her.

On information, police rescued her and arrested her brother-in-law Shipu Miah, 22, yesterday afternoon.

Sumi, daughter of Jolhat Miah of Tarabo Dakkhin Para, is the second wife of Korban Ali, son of Arab Ali of Tarabo area. They were married six months ago.

Since then, her husband and in-laws including Ali's first wife Maya Begum, uncle Selim and Shipu had been torturing her for Tk 1 lakh dowry.

A number of arbitrations were arranged to settle the matter. Her in-laws confined her to a room and kept torturing her, sources said.

They tied Sumi's hands and legs yesterday morning and hung the shoes around her neck to humiliate her in public.

The torture was recorded and found in Shipu's mobile phone. At one stage, her hair was cut and she was beaten up with sticks.

Hearing about the incident, Sumi's mother Taslima Begum informed the police of the matter. A team led by sub-inspector Monirul Islam later rescued her.

Officer-in-Charge of Rupganj police Ismail Hossain said they had arrested Shipu, but others had fled sensing the presence of law enforcers.

Sumi, who has been receiving treatment at Rupganj Upazila Health Complex, filed a case against her in-laws, he added.