Twenty-five-year-old Sadhna,who married a resident of Indrayani Nagar in Pimpri-Chinchwad,held an unusual protest outside her residence for two days after her in-laws slammed the door on her for allegedly not bringing dowry. No amount of pleading or even the fact that she had gone without food and water for two days changed her in-laws mind. They wanted Rs 5 lakh in cash and gold jewellery and nothing less. Sadhnas fast would perhaps have continued if the police did not get involved. She was forced to give up when she was taken away to the police station. However,on Wednesday,Sadhna said she would re-launch her fast because the police had failed to convince her in-laws to take her back. Despite police help,my in-laws still refuse to take me back.If they persist,I will re-launch my fast, Sadhna told this paper at the police commissionerate on Wednesday,where she filed an application seeking justice. Sadhna has been on fast outside her in-laws Indrayani Nagar bungalow throughout Monday and Tuesday. She carried handwritten posters,highlighting her plight and drew attention of curious passersby. I have been thrown out of my house for dowry,please take me back.If my parents are poor,it is not my fault, read the poster. During her fast,she had only one glass of water which was given to her by a neighbour. Local residents tried forcing me to eat,but I refused. But my in-laws didnt even offer me a glass of water. Sadhna hails from a village in Shirur taluka of Pune district. Her travails began soon after her marriage in December last year. At MIDC police station on Tuesday,Sadhna said her husband had not directly demanded dowry. But my mother-in-law keeps taunting me and her demands for dowry kept growing louder after a neighbour in our locality got married. The family apparently got 30 tolas of gold as dowry from the newly wed. So my mother-in-law started comparing us, she said. Sadhna said her looks were also made into an issue. She alleged that they disliked her for not being fair and good-looking. Sadhna said that despite this humiliation,she still wants to stay with her husband. I will die at my in-laws place,but wont leave my husband. Whether they beat me or taunt me,Im not going anywhere. One day,they will realise my worth. A fourth-year student of BSc (Agriculture),Sadhna said that after her marriage in December,she stayed with her in-laws for 37 days. After that I went to my parents place for exams. Back in March,the day my exams got over,my husband called to tell me I should not return home. My relatives intervened; a meeting was held,but even then they refused to take me back. I was in a state of shock. When I returned to my in-laws,they slammed the door on me. MIDC police inspector Dattatrye Patil said though the woman had given her statement to the police,the two parties had decided to arrive at an amicable solution to this situation. But,according to Sadhna,her in-laws later backed out. While her in-laws could not be contacted,police said Sadhna has approached the police commissioners office with a written complaint and both parties have been called to the commissionerate on Thursday.
