It’s a sordid tale of dowry, betrayal and police apathy. Unfortunately, it is only too common in the rural hinterlands of India and not merely in Jharkhand. In Hazaribagh, however, it has ended the life of a promising student and brought despair to her family.
Bharti was a second year student of KB Women’s College, Hazaribagh. A resident of Rood village of Ichak block, she was the third daughter in her family. Nevertheless, Bharti was a good student and her parents sent her to Hazaribagh for higher studies despite economic constraints, where she lived in a lodge at Korrah.On August 1, Bharti took poison to end her life. She was admitted to Sadar Hospital and referred to RIMS, Ranchi, but died.
Father Jaichand Sao told Bariatu Police, Ranchi, that he had fixed Bharti’s marriage with Santosh Sao of Oriya village (Hazaribagh Sadar). Santosh is a police constable posted at Giridih.After the marriage was settled, Santosh started meeting Bharti and established a physical relationship with her. However, his attitude changed drastically when she became pregnant. In telephone conversations that Bharti recorded, he can be heard questioning her character.
Probably with some notion in mind, the girl recorded the phone calls but her distress ultimately led her to end her life.Her father said they had paid Rs 4.5 lakh for the marriage to Santosh’s parents. Now, with their daughter gone and life derailed, Bharti’s family is trying their best to give her justice.No political or social organisation is willing to help. Now, some 150 youths from Rood village are trying to get a case registered against Santosh. They have been turned down by various police stations — citing jurisdiction — but they haven’t given up yet.
SP Manoj Kaushik first enquired about the entire matter and then told The Pioneer that Bharti died at RIMS and Bariatu police was yet to send the recorded statement over. He added that they would register a case when they got details. Until the time the SP keeps his word, Bharti’s family will get no closure.