Double narratives: Woman dies after falling from the roof

Deceased’s mother claims she was pushed over by her in-laws.

ABBOTABAD: A woman died after reportedly falling from the roof of her double-storey house in the city, police said on Friday. The victim’s mother, however, contested the claim, accusing the deceased’s husband, father-in-law and brother-in-law of pushing her off the roof.

In her complaint, Shabana Bibi, who is a nurse at the District Headquarters Hospital, said her daughter Bakhtawar, 18, married Sohail of Sheikul Bandi Mohallah about a year back. Bibi said Bakhtawar had no children and her in-laws also often taunted her for bringing in dowry less than they had expected.

Bibi alleged they often subjected Bakhtawar to physical violence and used abusive language.

In an effort to appease Bakhtawar’s in-laws, Bibi said she bought household items worth Rs300,000 for them but that failed to bring about a change in their attitude towards her daughter.

Bibi said on Thursday evening they again thrashed Bakhtawar and when she ran to the roof to save herself, her husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law shoved her over. Bakhtawar was critically injured and was pronounced dead by the time she reached the hospital.

Doctors told the police Bakhtawar sustained head injuries and multiple fractures on her body which ultimately led to her demise.

Police later arrested Sohail, his brother Shahid and father Sahib Khan, who have denied the charges against them, claiming Bakhtawar committed suicide over a petty argument.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2014.