Daijiworld Media Network - Phulambri
Phulambri, Jan 16: The death of a 31-year-old married woman after drowning in a well at Vanegaon village in Phulambri taluka of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district has triggered tension in the area, with her maternal relatives alleging that she was assaulted by her in-laws and pushed into the well.
The deceased has been identified as Sunita Anna Bhokare (31), a resident of Vanegaon. She was the daughter of Shivaji Gawli of Modha Khurd village in Sillod taluka and had been married to Anna Bhokare of Vanegaon for the past 12 years. The couple has two children, a son and a daughter.
According to the police, Sunita left her house on Tuesday afternoon between 2 pm and 3 pm but did not return. A search was launched by villagers and family members, following which her body was found in a well near the village on Wednesday morning.
Her body was initially brought to the Phulambri Rural Hospital. However, her maternal relatives alleged that she was murdered by her in-laws and refused to allow a post-mortem examination there. Demanding an in-camera autopsy, they insisted that the body be taken to Ghati Hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. A brief commotion occurred at the hospital before the post-mortem was finally conducted.
After the autopsy, the body was brought by ambulance directly to the Phulambri police station, where the woman’s relatives staged a sit-in protest by placing the body outside the premises. The protest continued for nearly four-and-a-half hours, with the family demanding the immediate arrest of the accused and registration of a murder case.
Police inspector Sanjay Sahane and assistant police inspector Sunil Ingale attempted to pacify the protesters. A riot control unit was also deployed as a precautionary measure.
The agitation was called off late at night after police registered a case against six persons in connection with the incident. Sunita’s last rites were performed at Vanegaon around 11.30 pm.
Further investigation into the case is underway.