A tragic incident has come to light in Ludhiana, where a young woman was found dead under suspicious circumstances at her marital home. The case has taken a serious turn with the victim's family levelling grave allegations of dowry harassment and foul play.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The victim, identified as 27-year-old Bhawna, was discovered hanging at her residence in Guru Nanak Nagar, Mundian Kalan, on Monday night. Bhawna had entered into a love marriage with Rahul Godara approximately ten months ago, on March 22, 2025. According to her family, what followed the wedding was not marital bliss but persistent harassment.
Bhawna's father, Parminder Singh, who hails from Hoshiarpur, filed the official complaint. He stated that the couple experienced frequent quarrels soon after their marriage. The core of the conflict, as alleged, was relentless demand for dowry from Rahul and his family, which placed Bhawna under severe mental stress.
Family's Allegations and Police Action
The sequence of events after Bhawna's death has further deepened the family's suspicions. Bhawna's mother, Pushpa Lata, revealed that the family was initially informed by her father-in-law, Radhe Shyam Godara, that Bhawna had suffered a fatal heart attack. However, upon rushing to Ludhiana, the family observed clear strangulation marks on her neck, contradicting the heart attack claim.
Terming the initial information as misleading, the family lodged a formal complaint. They accused Rahul and his family of conspiring to kill Bhawna and then attempting to disguise her murder as a natural death. Pushpa Lata asserted that the harassment for dowry began soon after the wedding and that Bhawna had confided in them about her ordeal on several occasions, prompting previous interventions.
Taking cognizance of the serious allegations, the Ludhiana police have registered a case under Sections 80 (dowry death) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The accused named in the First Information Report (FIR) are Bhawna's husband, Rahul Godara, and his brothers, Rohit Godara and Rinku Godara.
Investigation Underway, Accused Absconding
ASI Harmeet Singh, the investigating officer on the case, confirmed that Bhawna's body has been moved to the Civil Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. While Rahul Godara has been arrested, his brothers, Rohit and Rinku, are currently absconding. A police hunt is on to locate and apprehend them.
The police have stated that investigations are actively ongoing to piece together the complete sequence of events and the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident. The findings of the post-mortem report are expected to be a crucial piece of evidence in the case.
This incident has once again brought the grim issue of dowry-related harassment and violence into sharp focus, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and strict legal action.
