Tamil Nadu Woman 'Pushed Off Terrace' Over Dowry; Arrives On Stretcher To File Complaint

A 21-year-old woman from Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district has accused her husband and in-laws of attempting to murder her over dowry demands, triggering public outrage and renewed calls for stronger enforcement of anti-dowry laws. The survivor, Nargis A, was brought to the Vellore Collectorate on a stretcher on Monday to file a formal petition, alleging that she was pushed off a second-floor terrace by her husband, B Khaja Rafik (30), on June 3 in Saduperi.

The survivor reportedly suffered a spinal cord injury and fractures in both legs.

Vellore Woman Alleges Dowry-Related Harassment 

Speaking from her stretcher, Nargis claimed that the abuse began soon after their wedding in 2023, despite her family providing substantial dowry: 30 sovereigns of gold, Rs 1.5 lakh for a vehicle, Rs 3 lakh for household appliances, and over Rs 10 lakh spent on the marriage, as per a report on The New Indian Express. According to her, the harassment escalated when Rafik moved her to a rented house in Saidapet and cut off her communication with her family.

She further alleged that the assault was instigated and enabled by Rafik’s parents—his father Baba, a serving Sub-Inspector in Tiruvannamalai, and his mother Shakila, reported The News Minute. Nargis also claimed that during her hospitalisation, her father-in-law threatened to poison her if she pursued legal action.

Her father, Abdul Salam, who accompanied her to the Collectorate, said multiple attempts to lodge a complaint at Ariyoor Police Station were met with silence, allegedly due to Baba’s influence in the police department.

Meanwhile, Vellore District Collector VR Subbulaxmi assured the family of a comprehensive and impartial investigation.

Rithanya Suicide Case

The incident comes just weeks after a 27-year-old Rithanya died by suicide just 78 days after her wedding, allegedly driven by persistent dowry harassment and abuse from her husband and in-laws in Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu. Prior to ingesting pesticide, Rithanya reportedly sent several voice messages to her father, detailing physical torture by her husband, Kavinkumar, and mental harassment by her in-laws, Easwaramurthy and Chithradevi.

The couple had married in April 2025, with the wedding reportedly involving a grand dowry that included 300 sovereigns of gold and a Rs 70 lakh Volvo car. 

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