Despite adequate laws and awareness campaigns to take action against dowry traders, violence and murders on the pretext of dowry have not stopped in Saptari. Although it is estimated that dowry can be eradicated with increasing education and awareness, the evil practice of dowry is currently prevalent even in educated and wealthy families. For girls born into families that cannot afford to pay dowry, marriage is becoming a dead end.

Sanjeev Yadav of Bhutahi, Dakneshwari Municipality-4, Saptari, reached Malaysia for foreign employment after poverty prevented him from getting his daughter married. His dream was to get his only daughter married off in a grand ceremony. He spent the 2.5 million rupees he had saved there and got his 21-year-old daughter Deepa Kumari Yadav married to Deepak Yadav of Mahadeva Rural Municipality-1, Sonra, on Ashad 4 in a grand ceremony as per tradition.

However, less than two and a half months after the wedding, Deepa lost her life on Bhadra 14. She was taken to Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital, Rajbiraj, on Bhadra 14, saying she was ill. The police started an investigation after the doctor confirmed that she had died before she was brought to the hospital.

When Deepa's body was injured and a bruise appeared on her neck, the police took her husband Deepak and father-in-law Parshuram into custody on the same day and started an investigation. Deepa and Deepak had an argument on the night of Bhadra 13, and the next morning, when they were face to face, Deepak had 'confessed' that he had killed Deepa by strangling her with a shawl. Deepa, who had already died, was brought to the hospital that afternoon to hide the incident. However, the incident came to light when the family reached the hospital at that time. District Police Spokesperson DSP Dambar Bahadur Puri said that a case of manslaughter has been filed against them. 'The Saptari District Court has released Deepa's father-in-law Parshuram on bail of Rs 30,000, while Deepak has been sent to jail for trial,' he said.

According to the deceased's elder father Bhagwati Prasad Yadav, Deepa's husband and in-laws had been mentally and physically torturing her, demanding the remaining Rs 50,000 dowry at the time of marriage. However, the police complaint states that Deepa was murdered after a total of Rs 2.5 million was spent on the wedding, after a delay in giving additional money due to shortage. _{The deceased is Krishalakumari Yadav, 20, of Patharaha, Balan Bihul Rural Municipality-2, Saptari.}

Krishalakumari Yadav, 20, of Patharaha, Balan Bihul Rural Municipality-2, was found hanging in her own house on Asoj 22. She was also married according to social customs on Baisakh 25. Rajkumar Yadav of Malhaniya Chotki Tol, Malhaniya, the same rural municipality-1, had spent Rs 1.7 million on his daughter's wedding. However, Rajkumar alleges that less than 5 months after the wedding, her husband Khagendra Yadav and in-laws Madan Yadav had her daughter hanged. ‘Even though the incident happened that night, we were informed by our neighbors only at 4 am the next morning,’ said Rajkumar. ‘When we saw Krishala hanging, her feet were touching the bed.’

The Kadarbona Area Police Office arrested Khagendra and Madan after Rajkumar alleged that Krishala was murdered because she had not yet paid a cow as dowry.’ However, Khagendra and Madan were released before their post-mortem report came. Inspector Gajendra Raya of Kadarbona Area Police said that both of them were released to do their homework. ‘We immediately released both of them to the care of the rural municipality chairman, but the investigation has not stopped,’ he said. ‘The post-mortem report came only on Sunday. The report is normal, but further investigation is underway.’

The incident of a newly married daughter-in-law dying due to dowry is not new here. There are also cases of family violence against daughter-in-laws on the pretext of dowry. Sanjita Sah, 28, of Dharampur, Kanchanrup Municipality-7, Saptari, who got married in court three years after a love affair on Facebook, is now forced to face violence from her family. Sanjita married Sandesh Sah, 30, of Makari Tole, Rupani Rural Municipality-3, in the district on 2081 Jestha 9. Sandesh was working as an engineer in a private company in Parsa when they went to the district court there and got married.

Their relationship went well for about a year after their marriage. However, when Sandesh's parents found out, Sanjita was homeless and her family was abusing her.

Sanjita said that after learning that her father-in-law Dharmadev Sah and mother-in-law Kiran Kumari Sah had married in court, she had also taken up the matter, saying that they should get married socially. ‘He called my father (Rameshwor Sah Teli) and asked for dowry, but I did not agree,’ she said, ‘If there was a dowry issue, he should have said it first. When I asked why he married me, Sandesh replied that it was not like that, but from there our relationship deteriorated and even stopped talking.’ Sanjita, who works as a nurse in a school in Sindhuli, has been forced to seek justice for 6 months to repair the relationship damaged by dowry.

She also reached her in-laws on Kartik 18 in the hope of repairing the relationship. However, she was left stranded after they did not allow her to enter the house. When she reached home, she was asked to stay in a dormitory with the help of villagers, but she spent the night hungry that day. She had eaten the food brought by the neighbor only the next day. She complained that even after the pressure, she was not allowed to enter the house even after the food was brought from the second day.

‘My husband, who had promised to be with me for the rest of his life, changed his words and behavior under family pressure, and I have become homeless,’ she said. ‘I stayed in Dalin for 10 days, and even to get me out, the family used to physically and mentally torture me.’ Sanjita said that she was forced to leave the place when insecurity started to increase. ‘I am still in a state of limbo,’ she added. ‘I have not found out what to do.’

Sanjita last filed a complaint against domestic violence at the District Police Office on Kartik 27. Before that, Sanjita had filed a domestic violence case against her husband, father-in-law and mother-in-law at the Saptari District Court. A single bench of Justice Mohan Bahadur Adhikari had issued an interim protective order while hearing the case on Ashad 23, 2082.

_{The deceased was Deepakumari Yadav, 21, of Mahadeva Rural Municipality-1, Sonara, Saptari.}

The order issued under Section 6 of the Domestic Violence (Offences and Punishment Act, 2066 BS) states that Sanjita should be allowed to live safely at home, be given food and clothing, and not be beaten or abused. However, Sanjita complains that the order has not been implemented.

Sanjita's father-in-law Dharmadev, who is also a teacher at a community school, says that there is no issue of dowry. 'Her allegations are baseless. I did not demand dowry or commit violence,' he said, 'There is a dispute between the son and daughter-in-law.' The problem has arisen when they do not come together.'

Husband Sandesh said that he does not want to live with Sanjita after seeing her behavior change. 'Initially, her behavior was good, but later, seeing her behavior change, I have decided not to live with her,' he said. DSP Puri said that efforts are being made to reach a settlement as per Sanjita's demand. 'Since Sandesh is not in touch, the matter has not been resolved,' he said, 'Sandesh's father is in touch, he has said that he will resolve the matter within 10 days.'

The number of complaints in the police has increased.

The district police has registered nearly 300 cases of marital offenses (transactions), marital offenses and domestic violence in the last three years. From the fiscal year 2079/080 to 081/082, 6 cases of marital offenses (transactions), one of marital offenses and 287 cases of domestic violence alone have been registered.

Only 2 people have been arrested within the investigation period in 6 cases of marital offenses (transactions). In the financial year 081/082, no one has been arrested within the investigation period in any case of marital offenses. ‘There is a legal provision that a complaint should be filed within 30 days of learning about the incident and that the investigation should be completed and submitted to the court within 3 months,’ said District Police Spokesperson DSP Puri. ‘Other accused may have appeared in court after the case was submitted.’

He said that out of 105 cases of domestic violence registered with the police in 2079/080, 85 were closed on the initiative of the police. 8 cases have been forwarded to other agencies, while 12 people have not been contacted, according to police data.

In 080/081, 156 cases were also registered. Out of these, 92 were closed and 39 cases are still ongoing. In 15 cases, 10 people have not been contacted after going to other agencies. In 2081/082, there are police statistics showing that there were fewer domestic violence cases. In that year, 26 cases were registered, 11 were dismissed. Currently, 14 cases are pending, and one case has been transferred to other agencies.

Apart from the police, domestic violence cases are also handled by the local level, courts and the National Women's Commission. DSP Puri says that in domestic violence cases that come to the police, they are sent after reconciliation as per the demand of the victim. 'However, if reconciliation is not possible or according to the wishes of the victim, we have been sending them to the court or other agencies along with the investigation file,' he said.