Woman strips to protest against dowry
Deepak Rajani
Thursday, July 05, 2007, (Rajkot)
In a desperate act, a woman in Rajkot was forced to protest against dowry demands and harassment by stripping down to her under garments.
The woman Pooja Chauhan says that she was pushed to the extreme by severe mental and physical abuse by her husband and his family and the apathy of the Rajkot police.
"The Police does not listen to me. They keep saying that my complaints will be taken care of. I have not been allowed to meet with the Police Commissioner. I have not got justice which is why I have decided to take off my clothes," said Pooja Chauhan, Complainant.
Pooja fell in love with Pratapsingh Chauhan and married him four years ago. That's when her nightmare began.
She alleges that she was harassed for dowry and later for bearing a daughter.
Five months ago, Pooja walked out with her child, and since then, she has been trying to register a case.
Last week, she allegedly attempted self-immolation outside the police station.
In sheer desperation, now she stripped down to her underwear and walked on the roads for an hour, and it appears that her desperate act had the desired affect.
Reacting immediately, the police arrested her husband and three others. But they also say that Pooja may not be mentally sound.
"She was being tormented by her in-laws. Following her complaint, her husband, her mother-in-law and even other relatives. Her complaint has been acted upon but I must say that she is mentally unstable," said Sardarsinh Zala, Inspector, Gujarat Police.
The police may call it an act of madness but perhaps it was the shock treatment that stirred them into action.