Body of newly-wed woman found in well in Garhwa, kin allege murder over dowry

Garhwa: The body of a 20-year-old woman, who had been married in March this year, was recovered from a well in Bhandar village under Dhurki police station limits on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Shanti Devi.

Family members of Shanti alleged that she was tortured and killed by her over dowry, and her body was dumped in the well to hide evidence. Her father Narayan Shah alleged that immediately after Shanti’s marriage to Nand Lal Shah on March 14 this year, her in-laws demanded Rs 5 lakh in cash and a four-wheeler.

Shanti’s husband and in-laws remained absconding after her body was discovered. Janardan Raut, the officer-in-charge of Dhurki police station, said, “We are awaiting the postmortem examination to ascertain whether it was a murder or a suicide.”