MUMBAI, February 16: A 40-year-old woman, Meenabai, was stabbed fourteen times by her husband late last night at Dongri. She was rushed to the J J Hospital, where she was declared dead before admission. The husband, Vishwanath, is absconding, police said.The relations between the two were strained for over a year now over the regular visits of one Rafiq to their house. Their neighbours at the Five Garden Road, Dana Bunder said the couple used to have arguments every day. Quite often they used to exchange blows too. " Vishwanath used to drink every evening and Rafiq used to visit in his absence,'' said a neighbour. According to Dongri police, last night too the accused returned home drunk and picked up a quarrel with his wife over Rafiq.He wanted Meenabai to stop inviting Rafiq over for dinner every night. When she insisted that the visits would continue, Vishwanath in a fit of anger picked a sharp weapon and stabbed her repeatedly in the chest. He soon left the house, leaving behind a profuselybleeding Meenabai. The neighbours alarmed by her screams rushed to her help. But, it was too late.Preliminary investigations have revealed that for over a year now Rafiq used to visit Meenabai every evening. He would spend long hours in the house in Vishwanath's absence. Investigating officer Sub-Inspector of Police S Sarawne told this newspaper that eyewitness accounts and available evidence suggest that the woman's relationship with Rafiq had led to the murder. ``But investigations are at a primary stage.more information is awaited,'' Sarawne added.Neighbours, however, confirmed that Vishwanath suspected that his wife was having an affair with Rafiq. ``Last night when she expressed her resolve to continue to see Rafiq, he was convinced,'' a neighbour said."This was not the first time they had clashed, the brawls were a regular affair in their house. We had never dreamt in our wildest dreams that the events would one day take such a macabre turn,'' said another.Some others said they were fedup of the nuisance. "We were really tired of the fights every night. But, they could have resolved their differences more amicably.
