Nuh Dowry Death Horror: Mother and Three Daughters Found in Village Well
The tragic deaths of a 28-year-old woman and her three young daughters in a village well in Nuh, Haryana, have spotlighted shocking allegations of prolonged domestic harassment, including dowry demands, physical assault, and taunts for not bearing a male child. A murder case has been registered against seven members of her husband's family following a complaint by the woman's father, who claims the abuse escalated in the days leading to the discovery of the bodies.
Details of the Tragedy and Alleged Abuse
Sahila, who married Sahid of Badopur village in 2018, was found dead along with her daughters—Aksha (5), Saniya (2.5), and four-month-old Sanaya—in a well in agricultural fields on Monday. Her father, Hanif, a resident of Alwar in Rajasthan, told police that substantial dowry had been given at the time of marriage, including a motorcycle, Rs 1.1 lakh in cash, and household items, but the in-laws were never satisfied.
In his complaint, Hanif detailed that harassment began early in the marriage, with repeated demands for a Hyundai Creta. He alleged that Sahid, Sahila's brothers-in-law Zubair and Saddam, father-in-law Isab, and other relatives—Maqsoodan, Maimuna, and Sanji—subjected her to sustained mental and physical abuse. The torture reportedly worsened after Sahila gave birth to daughters instead of a son.
"From the beginning, they kept pressuring and harassing my daughter for a Creta," Hanif stated in his complaint, adding that he repeatedly tried to reason with the family and often brought Sahila back to her parental home to protect her. "We went to their house several times and pleaded with them not to torment her. But their behaviour did not change," he emphasized.
Escalation of Violence and Previous Complaints
Hanif further alleged that about six months ago, Sahila was locked inside a room and brutally thrashed, with her jewellery—including bangles, necklaces, and chains—taken away. When Hanif sent his son Rashid to check on her, Rashid was also allegedly assaulted and confined, requiring police intervention for rescue.
This incident led to a complaint at Ferozepur Jhirka police station, where a community meeting was held. According to the family, Sahila's husband and in-laws admitted wrongdoing, and the matter was settled temporarily. However, Hanif reported that the situation deteriorated again after Sahila gave birth to her third daughter around four months ago.
Two days before the deaths, Sahila called her father, stating that her in-laws had beaten her severely and were threatening to kill her, as per the FIR. Around 8:30 PM on Sunday, Hanif received a call from a person in Badopur inquiring if Sahila had reached her parental home. After unsuccessful attempts to contact her marital family throughout the night, Hanif was informed the next morning by the village headman that Sahila and her daughters had been found dead in a well.
Police Investigation and Recovery of Bodies
Police stated that Sahila had gone to the family's farmland on Sunday to harvest mustard. When she did not return by evening, relatives searched the nearby fields and surrounding areas but found no trace. The next morning, around 9 AM, her family noticed a pair of slippers near the edge of a well and discovered the children's bodies floating inside.
The bodies were recovered and sent to a mortuary at a government hospital in Mandikhera. A murder case was promptly registered, with officials noting, "Teams have been formed to arrest the accused at the earliest. The harassment, as alleged, was linked to the birth of girls." This case underscores the grim reality of dowry-related violence and gender-based abuse in rural India, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of anti-dowry laws and greater societal awareness.
