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Sharfunisa, Karnataka
Mother of Nasseemaunissa and Shabanaz

I would like to share the story of two of my daughters who died in dowry death, both of whom died in burns. First I would like to share about my first daughter Naseemaunissa. She was married to Zuberkhan, he works as a carpenter. My daughter had led her married life for just two and a half years. My son-in-law demanded Rs.500/- cash. She knows I cannot pay as I have no male child, but had seven daughters who will require dowry and Nasema was only my second daughter. As Nasema did not bring Rs.500/- he set her on fire along with his mother in the year 1993. However, my daughter who was admitted in Victoria hospital gave a statement of suicide burns. My son-in-law was kept in jail for three days at the police station but I did not file a complaint as I did not know much about the law. Now Naseema’s child is being looked after by me. Eleven months after my daughter’s death, Zuber went to Shivanasamundsa with his friends and fell into river. After three days later his body was fished out. I find this is the justice for Naseema’s death which I feel proud of my God.

Now eleven years after this incident, there was another shocking incident. My other daughter Shabanaz Banu who was a teacher married Shafi Ahmed who works in a textile shop. During the wedding, household items given included vessels, cot, bed almarah, ornaments to bride and watch for a groom.

After marriage I had to pay advance for my daughter and son-in-law to stay, for two to three months. My daughter was happy. Later her salary was to be given to my son-in-law, and slowly the torture from her mother-in-law and sister-in-law began, as she was expecting a child. They demanded that if my daughter delivered a female child Rs.50,000/- cash should be given. There was another reason for my daughter’s torture: was because she was dark in colour. Slowly it came to my knowledge that my son-in-law began having a relationship with another woman. When my daughter was seven months pregnant, she came home and delivered a female child. None of my daughter’s in-laws came to see either my child or grand child.

Later when my grand child was three months old my daughter was sent to her in-laws house. Exactly one month after she was sent to her in-laws house and I received a message from my neighbour that my daughter was burnt.

Directly I came to hospital and saw my daughter with 32 percent burns on chest, face, hands, etc. My daughter had hardly led her wedded life at all, just for a year and four months, leaving behind her four month old female child. My daughter gave a statement of homicide burns and her husband and mother-in-law were arrested. Now the final judgment is that my son-in-law and his mother have a life sentence and to be in jail till their death. However, the mother-in-law died after the judgment was passed. I have been taking care of my grandchild, now she goes to school regularly. I have no support from any one, my husband though alive, stays in Mysore since after my 1st daughter died, I have no sons but my other daughters are there and if they have problems I also help them. I earn my living and take care of my grandchild by selling sprouted seeds.