Pregnant woman killed for dowry in Mumbai

A three-month pregnant woman was allegedly strangled to death by her husband and in-laws for not bringing home enough dowry. Her husband and in-laws wanted the money to buy a new house.

The police have arrested the husband and three others for the crime. The victim has been identified as Shaheen Sheikh, a resident of Gulshan Nagar in Andheri (W).

According to the police, Shaheen and Tanveer got married in March after a brief period of courting. However, soon after the marriage Tanveer and his family allegedly started harassing her for getting dowry from her parents.

Sources say Shaheen told her parents and siblings about the harassment. “To an extent, we even satisfied some of their demands, but then it went on increasing,” said Dr Kamrulhuda Khan, the victim’s brother. According to the victim’s relatives, Shaheen had called her sister on Thursday evening, saying Tanveer hit her on the stomach. “The next day Tanveer’s family called us saying that Shaheen is dead,” adds Dr Kamrulhuda.

The victim’s relatives were shocked at not finding Tanveer or any of his relatives at the Cooper hospital, where Shaheen was declared dead. Shaheen’s family members alleged that there were injury marks on her neck.

Shaheen’s family then lodged a complaint against Tanveer and his family at DN Nagar police station. Though the police are awaiting the post-mortem report, they have registered a case of dowry death and arrested Tanveer, his parents and uncle.