Kulgam woman survives dowry horror

Srinagar, Jul 29: A 30-year-old woman suffered serious burn injuries after her husband allegedly tried to burn her alive in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, following years of domestic abuse and dowry harassment. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with the victim’s family staging protests and demanding strict action against the accused, who has been booked by police. The woman, originally from Chatabal in Kulgam, is currently being treated at a local hospital, where her condition is reported to be stable.

The accused, identified as Arif Ahmad Mir, 34, of Manzgam in D.H. Pora, is the father of the victim’s four-year-old son.

“My daughter has suffered for years. He beat her, threatened her, and kept demanding more dowry. We gave him everything we could, but he was never satisfied,” said Mukhtar Ahmad, the victim’s father. The family also accused Arif of having an extramarital affair and recently marrying another woman. “He wanted to eliminate my daughter to freely live with the other woman. This was an attempt to murder,” said a protesting relative.

Police have registered a zero FIR for dowry harassment at the Women’s Police Station in Kulgam. A zero FIR allows police to register a complaint irrespective of jurisdiction, a reform introduced after the 2012 Nirbhaya case to ensure swift action in serious crimes.

Dr Shazia Malik, assistant professor at the University of Kashmir’s Centre for Women’s Studies and Research , said bride burnings expose the systemic neglect of abused women.

“Women here suffer in silence, often with little support from their natal families. Institutions like the State Commission for Women are absent, and existing shelters like One Stop Centres lack trained staff and proper resources,” said Malik who has extensively worked on gender based violence and motherhood challenges.

According to the National Commission for Women, domestic violence remains the top grievance among Indian women. In 2024 alone, 6,237 of the 25,743 complaints (24%) received by the NCW were domestic violence-related. A total of 4,383 complaints (17%) pertained to dowry harassment, while 292 were linked to dowry deaths — emphasizing the continuing threat women face in their homes. Despite legal safeguards, Jammu and Kashmir continues to see a surge in dowry-related violence. Official data reveals that dowry deaths have risen by more than 45% in recent years.