HYDERABAD: Do the dead have religion? Asif Nagar police had a difficult case to solve as two families fought over the religion of a woman who committed suicide on Monday. While the woman’s parents insisted on performing the final rites according to Hindu tradition, the in-laws insisted on burying the body according to Islamic practice,
Tension prevailed at Asif Nagar police station on Tuesday as both families came almost to fisticuffs.
Police, who received a formal complaint at 3 pm on Monday had to consult legal experts to untangle the issue and landed at a conclusion on Tuesday evening, 24 hours after the case was filed.
Organisations and representatives of both faiths approached the police seeking justice. Finally, police handed over the body to the husband’s family. Based on a complaint from Vikrama Chary, father of Priyanka Chary, the victim, Asif Nagar police registered a case for abetment of suicide and domestic violence against the victim’s father-in-law and sister-in-law.
Ariba Sultana, originally Priyanka Chary (26), ended her life at around 9.45 am on Monday by hanging from the ceiling of her house. Her husband Syed Junaid Hashmi has been working in Sharjah for the last six months.
The couple had been married for five years and she was living with her two sons and in-laws at First Lancer road near Masab Tank.
According to Syed Junaid Hashmi, who returned home on Monday night, Sultana had gone to her father’s residence in Balapur on December 31 and was to return the next day.
“She returned only on January 3. There was some dispute between her father and father’s brother over some property. It is said that the family members had criticised Vikrama Chary for his daughter’s decision to marry outside faith. Even after so many years, he was being targeted though the family had accepted Sultana’s marriage. She was depressed over the developments there,” said Syed Junaid Hashmi who claimed ignorance of any harassment at home. “We got a complaint from victim’s father alleging harassment as the cause of suicide. He has named the father-in-law and sister-in-law of Sultana in the complaint. We have registered an FIR and investigation is on,” said Asif Nagar sub-inspector Ghouse Khan.