Atrocity slur casts on husband, in-laws
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 13 2011: A young housewife, who had a miraculous escape from death after consuming a deadly concoction, has lodged a complaint to the Manipur state Commission for women alleging atrocities by her husband and in-laws.

Twenty-one year old Mayanglambam Sanjita of Kakching Chumnang Leikai formally lodged her complaint to the Commission Chairperson today during which she also narrated her ordeal to some newspersons.

Due to unbearable mental and physical torture, the young housewife said after about three years of tumultuous association with her husband and in-laws and unwilling to shift the burden to her own parents decided to commit suicide and consumed an acid mixture on June 24 morning (8 o'clock).

However, she was taken to Kakching community Hospital from where after first aid treatment was referred to RIMS Hospital where she regained consciousness, Sanjita said.

Married to one Moirangthem Gitchandra (30) s/o Thaniljao of Kakching Wairi Sabal Leikai on May 27, 2009, Sanjita contended that her marital bliss was short-lived as the husband instigated by his parents started to harass her on flimsy grounds.

Recounting that she was initially hesitant to get married for she wished to concentrate on her studies, Sanjita recalled that Gitchandra called her out from her rented quarters in Thangmeiband area on April 28, 2009 and insisted they elope.

While she was compelled to give up studies in DM College due to marriage, Sanjita nevertheless pursued a career in nursing profession at Kangleipak Medical Institute, Khurai after a month of marriage, by staying at a ladies' hostel in Imphal.

Further revealing that her in-laws raised objection on her staying at the hostel, she said the period of her attending nursing classes on a daily basis from home drained all her energy as she had to wake up at 4 am, prepare food for the family and travel by bus to reach the Institute by 7 am.

After class gets over by noon, household chores still remained to be completed before sleeping, she said while adding that the situation got even more complicated when she got pregnant as her mother in-law, in particular, was against the idea of conceiving.

With Gitchandra, also supporting his mother that a child could be raised after some years, Sanjita underwent abortion at kakching Bazar with the nurse who attended on her advising complete rest for a month which the husband did not oblige consequently resulting in the gradual deterioration of her health.

Recounting that the first physical atrocity was started by her husband when she returned home after attending a customary ritual at her maternal home, Sanjita said attending another ceremony (marriage) some time later evoked the wrath of the entire family (in-laws) which was followed abuse and beaten in a frequent manner.

Under the impression that staying with her husband and in-laws any longer will only add to her miseries, Sanjita said she decided to take the extreme step of committing suicide.

Even though she had fully recovered, Sanjita asserted she will never return to her in-law's place.

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