Shabir Ali
After nearly two decades of alleged domestic abuse, a woman from Srinagar’s Hazratbal area died on Monday after setting herself on fire following a family dispute.
Officials said the woman, originally from Shalimar and married in Hazratbal for the past 18 years, poured kerosene over herself and set herself ablaze. She was rushed to JLNM Hospital Rainawari but succumbed to her injuries during treatment.
According to her family, she had endured repeated harassment, physical violence, and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband and in-laws over the years.
“She was always taunted about what she had brought from her father’s house,” her sister said, recalling that the woman was often beaten by her husband. “During Ramadan last year, he tied her to a bed and assaulted her. She managed to escape but was forced to return after her in-laws involved the Mohalla elders to pressure the family.”
Another relative added, “She had a daughter, and people would constantly tell her to stay for the sake of her child, warning that separation would harm the child more.”
The family revealed that the woman had left her in-laws’ home several times during her marriage due to the abuse. However, each time, her family was persuaded—often through community pressure—to send her back, hoping for reconciliation.
In the days leading up to her death, she had reportedly called her sister, crying about the renewed beatings and pleading for help. “I promised her I would bring her away,” her sister said tearfully, “but today the news came that she had died.”
Following the incident, SDPO Zakura, SHO Nigeen, and DO Hazratbal visited the scene. A police official confirmed her death, adding that she was the mother of two children. Police have registered a case, and an investigation is underway.
This tragedy comes amid growing concern over rising crimes against women in Kashmir. Earlier this year, a woman in Pulwama was allegedly strangled to death by her husband, and another case in Baramulla involved a woman reportedly thrown off a building following a dispute.
According to the latest available report, the Union Territory recorded 3,716 cases of crimes against women in 2022, making it the second-highest among all Union Territories, following Delhi . Srinagar district reported the highest number of crimes against women, with 446 cases in 2022, followed by Jammu with 431 cases .
Over the past three years, Jammu and Kashmir has reported approximately 12,000 cases of crimes against women, averaging around 4,000 cases annually . Despite these figures, many cases remain unreported due to societal stigma and fear of reprisal.
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
