BEGUSARAI: The mother of a 25-year-old woman has accused her son-in-law and his family of murdering her daughter over dowry and pressure to convert to Islam in Balia ward No. 1 under Balia police station limits in Begusarai district.In a complaint lodged on Tuesday, Draupadi Devi alleged that her daughter, Ankita, was strangled by her husband, Mohd Arzoo, on Monday night and her body was subsequently hanged with a rope to make the death appear to be suicide.She also accused Arzoo’s brother, Mohd Arman, and other family members of being involved in the alleged murder.According to Draupadi, a resident of the Kasim Bazar police station area in Munger, Ankita worked as a nurse at a hospital in Munger before coming in contact with Arzoo. The two entered into a relationship, following which Ankita eloped with him and later married him.“We were opposed to the relationship because Arzoo belonged to a different religion. I had also lodged a police complaint after Ankita eloped with him. However, since both were adults, their marriage was valid,” Draupadi said.She alleged that relations between the couple initially remained cordial but deteriorated within a few months of their marriage. Ankita frequently complained of physical and mental harassment by her husband and in-laws, she claimed.The situation allegedly worsened after Ankita gave birth to a daughter in 2023.Draupadi further alleged that Ankita continued to follow Hinduism and was repeatedly pressured by her husband and in-laws to convert to Islam. She claimed that Ankita was frightened on Monday night and had told her that her in-laws had even stopped her from visiting a Durga Puja fair.Draupadi also alleged that Arzoo had been involved in another case concerning an interfaith relationship before his marriage to Ankita and was an accused in an Arms Act case.Balia police station SHO Shailendra Kumar said raids were being conducted to arrest the accused, including Arman, his wife and their sister.Police investigation into the allegations is underway.
