Imphal, August 10 2010: A young married woman, who returned to her maternal home and has been undergoing treatment for mental trauma she had suffered in the hands of her in-laws, was reportedly threatened at gunpoint by two masked men suspected to have been sent by her husband.

After that incident, the young woman identified as Khwairakpam Nirupama (22) d/o Khwairakpam Sanggai of Sekmai Khunou Leikai has been living in dread and fear is reluctant in even venturing out of the house.

At around 4.30 pm of August 6, Nirupama was returning home from a nearby Khong after washing her hands and legs when the two masked men stopped her and pointed a gun on her head.

Before she could say anything, the armed intruders asked her how much money she wants and warned of dire consequences if she tells anyone about their coming.

Subsequently, Nirupama lodged a complaint with the Sekmai police station in connection with the incident.

Nirupama was married to Heikham Swamikanta s/o Heikham Lokhon of Khurkhul Makha Leikai on October 16, 2006 .

After Nirupama started suffering from mental problems while still staying at her husband's place on account of the ill-treatment of her husband and constant harassment of her other in-laws members, Swamikanta brought her to her maternal home on June 26, 2007.After this, Swamikanta never came back to inquire about the well-being of his wife. Nirupama has been undergoing treatment under Dr Lenin of Psychiatric Department, RIMS and she is said to be responding to the treatment and recovering fast.

When Nirupama started suffering from mental problem while at her husband's place, her in-laws including her husband ridiculed her saying that she was only pretending to be insane to avoid family chores.

It was only after her condition worsen and she fainted one day that her husband brought Nirupama to her maternal home.

Even while staying at her maternal home and undergoing treatment, Nirupama has no escape from the harsh words of Swamikanta who through telephone calls her a mad woman and threatens to marry another woman.

Later on, Swamikanta indeed eloped another woman.

Following a complaint lodged with the Sekmai Police from the side of Swamikanta's family proposing dissolution of the marriage between Nirupama and Swamikanta, family members of Nirupama including herself have been summoned to the police station.

When the family members of Swamikanta said that they would pay Rs 10,000 for dissolution of the marriage, Nirupama and her family members returned from the police station.

In the meantime, Nirupama filed a case under Domestic Violence Act.

Acting on her complaint, the court had issued an order to ensure protection of Nirupama from the harassment of her husband and other in-laws members. Swamikanta had also filed a case in the Family Court for divorcing Nirupama.

The case is in the counselling stage.

Amid all these cases and counter cases, the incident of threatening Nirupama at gun point and asking her how much money she wants has come about.

Speaking in a press conference organised jointly by Sekmai Protection Committee and Advance Women Society, Sekmai Awang Leikai at Manipur Press Club here today, Nirupama came out strongly against the incident of threatening her at gun point and demanded that all those who are involved in the incident should be punished.

She suspected possible involvement of her estranged husband since there is a case pending between them in the court.

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