Radharani wants to be self-reliant

Torture victim housewife Radharani Chowhan left Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) on Saturday, after treatment for burn injuries inflicted by dowry-greedy in-laws on November 3.

With an uncertain future looming large, Radha, 24, went to her sister Sumita Chowhan's house at Shibganj in Phulbaria upazila under the district.

"What an ill-fated woman I am! At such an age I have to end my conjugal life and become a burden on the relatives," said Radha talking to this correspondent over mobile phone, sobbing.

"I do not want to continue any relation with those evil people. After my full recovery, I will look for job to earn my bread," she said.

"Radha will stay at my house until she is fully cured," said Sumita.

After Radha got recovered up to a hopeful stage, she was released from the hospital for better care at home atmosphere, said Dr Adnan Kaiser, registrar of Burn and Plastic Surgery unit of MMCH.

Radha, daughter of late Harilal Chowhan of Sherpur's Nalitabari upazila, got married to cloth shop employee Arun Chowhan of Mymensingh's Haluaghat upazila in January 2011, but his family started torturing her to force her to give Tk 1 lakh as dowry, said Radha's family members.

Arun's father Sreeprasad Chowhan poured hot curry into Radha's face when she was cooking on November 3. Arun took her to MMCH but fled soon after her admission there.

Radha's brother Sanjib Chowhan filed a case the following day against Arun's parents and younger brother.

A Mymensingh court sent Arun's father Sreeprasad and mother Joysna Chowhan to jail after their arrest on November 6, said police.

Radha's family demanded punishment of the torturers.

Sanjib, working as an employee at a sweetmeat shop in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh, maintains a five-member family including his mother amid much hardship.

He alleged that Arun and some unknown callers are pressing him to withdraw the case while Arun told this correspondent that he requested Sanjib to withdraw the case as it was an 'accident'.