A 32-year-old man was arrested for allegedly burning his three-year-old son with cigarette butts and sexually torturing his wife, on Wednesday. The police have also launched a search for four of his family members in connection with the case.
Naseerin Nisra (23) filed a complaint with the SP of Vellore P Vijaya Kumar against her husband Masood Basha of Sathuvachari, stating that he had been harassing her physically and emotionally since from the second day of their marriage in 2008.
Basha, an alcoholic, sought pleasure by beating their son Uvesh (3) and making him cry. “He (Basha) did not allow her to go near their son when he was crying in pain. He also inflicted cigarette burns on the child,” said Naseerin, in her complaint. The SP forwarded the case to the All Women Police Station (AWPS), Vellore, for a detailed inquiry.
The AWPS found that Basha, who runs a biriyani stall at Gandhi Road had developed a dislike towards his wife and started to harass her physically and emotionally. Naseerin told investigation officer (IO) of the case and inspector of AWPS K Mangayarkarasi that her husband had sexually tortured her. He had also developed an illegal relationship with their house maid. Naseerin told police that Basha was a sadist. “On July 5, Basha came in an inebriated condition and inflicted cigarette burns on Uvesh’s neck and shoulder. He didn’t even allow the boy’s mother to go near him when he screamed. Basha told her that it was a punishment for her to see the boy crying in pain,” said the IO, quoting Naseerin.
However, Basha told police that Uvesh sustained burns when they were preparing biriyani. “We have sent the boy for a medical check-up to confirm if the injuries were caused by cigarette butt. Based on the report, we will take suitable action,” said the IO.
Basha’s family had forced Naseerin out of their house in 2012 to get more dowry, said the IO further. Naseerin also stated that her father-in-law Iqbal (alias) Babu had spoken ill of her and criticised her appearance. Basha’s mother and two sisters had also allegedly abused her, the police officer said.
The AWPS registered a case against Basha under Section 498 (a) of IPC and arrested him. The police also booked a case against Basha’s family under Section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and also launched a search for them.