Domestic violence: Beaten up, humiliated for ‘refusing to sell her gold’

Husband claims her ‘loose morals’ are to blame for the assault.

BAHAWALPUR:

A woman was beaten up and her head was shaved on Wednesday by her husband and in-laws allegedly for refusing to let him sell her gold jewellery.

Shamim, a resident of Chak 101 DB near Yazman, was taken to a hospital by some neighbours with severe injuries.

Her father, Pokhara Ram, told the police that Shamim and her husband, Manzooria Ram, had frequent quarrelled over their financial situation.

He said at the time of his marriage, Manzooria borrowed some money from a landlord. Later, he took another loan from the same landlord to start a business that did not go well.

Doctors treating Shamim at the hospital said that she had bruises all over her back and her arms.

They said there were also some bruises on her scalp from being handled roughly when the head was being shaved.

In her statement, Shamim told the police that her husband had been beating her frequently over petty issues. She said he had been telling her to hand over her gold jewellery so that he could sell it. She said she did not want to sell the gold as it was a gift from her parents.

“I tried to convince him that we would be ruined if he sold it. But he would not listen…Then he became physical,” she said.

She said on Wednesday, he again told her to give him the jewellery.

When she refused, he got up to get it from the cupboard. She said when she tried to stop him he started beating her. She said her mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law and his wife also beat her.

She said they also forcibly shaved her head. They also forced some liquid into her mouth, which made her dizzy, she said.

Akram, one of the neighbours who rescued her, told The Express Tribune that they had found Shamim lying on the floor.

He said her head had been shaved, she was bleeding from the nose and was close to fainting. He said they called her father and the police and took her to a hospital.

Manzooria, who has been arrested, told The Tribune, he had beaten his wife for having a ‘loose character.’

He said she was carrying on an illicit relationship. He said he had warned her several times, but she had not stopped.

Shamaim said the charge had been invented. She also said she now feared that if she returned home, her in-laws would again assault her.

Station House Officer (SHO) Chaudhry Afzal told The Tribune that a complaint had been received against Manzooria and four other family members on charges of assault and attempt to forcibly acquire property. However, he said, Manzooria’s family had not been arrested.

Investigation officer Ghulam Rasool said that according to the initial medical report Shamim had been drugged.

Shamim said she planned to live with her parents once she was discharged from the hospital, She has appealed the chief justice of Pakistan and the chief minister to take notice of her case.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2012.