a pregnant woman has been burnt alive

Rihana undergoing treatment for burns at a hospital.(Tekendra Basyal/Republica)

KOHALPUR, May 5: In yet another ghastly incident of violence against women, a pregnant woman has been burnt alive allegedly for not bringing dowry. 

Rihana Sheikh Dhapali, 25, who hails from Hirminiya VDC of Banke district, was burnt allegedly by her husband Farid Sheikh more than a month ago. Sheikh, a resident of Laxmanpur VDC of Banke, allegedly set her ablaze for not bringing a motorcycle and a water buffalo in dowry. 

After she was burnt, Rihana was locked up in a room without medical treatment for two days. Only when her health condition worsened that she was taken to a hospital in Baharaich, India for treatment. But, she was pressurized by her husband not to disclose the incident. 

The incident came to light only after Rihana’s family reported it to the Nepalgunj-based office of the Informal Sector Service Center (Insec) on Sunday. Rihana’s family members said they approached Insec after police showed reluctance to initiate action on their complaint.

Women rights activists on Monday sent Rihana to Kathmandu for treatment. Lower parts of her body have been badly injured. She is said to be in a critical condition.

Rihana was heavily pregnant when she was burnt on March 17. Later, while undergoing treatment at Bheri Zonal Hospital on April 24, she had a stillbirth. 

“Even before I was burnt, my husband used to beat me badly. He would burn my private parts with lighted cigarettes,” said Rihana. “On that day, my husband tied my hands, poured kerosene over my body and then set me on fire.” After she could not meet the dowry demand, Sheikh allegedly tried to kill her by setting her on fire. Her in-laws threatened to kill her with a poison syringe if she disclosed the affair. 

Rihana was not able to disclose her suffering to anyone. Under the pretext of treatment, she was taken to India and kept in isolation. 

Later, Rihana’s father Mohammad Samim Sheikh Dhapali went there and found that his daughter was held in hiding by her in-laws. He then approached the police and Insec seeking justice for her daughter. 

After the incident was revealed, Banke’s Chief District Officer Jeevan Prasad Oli on Monday instructed the District Police Office (DPO) of Banke to probe the matter. The Banke DPO has formed a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Prem Basnyat to investigate into the incident. DSP Basnyat said that they would leave no stone unturned to take action against those involved in the incident. 

After the incident came to light, Sheikh, Rihana’s husband, has fled the village.