Two is Better Than One! 1st Wife Tortured by Husband having 2nd Wife?
Mangaluru: The lyrics from the Western song “Two Is Better than One” may or may not suit right in this case, where a man has been torturing his first wife having also a second wife- this man had married his first love on 6 January 2005, and also in that same month (29 January 2005) had married another woman forced to do so by his father- but his second marriage came to the knowledge of his first wife just a few months ago…read further for the complete story.
Addressing the media persons with tears in her eyes, Latha alias Lalitha originally from Hassan revealed her ordeal saying, “I Lalitha had come to Mangaluru looking for a job in Home Nursing in the year 2005, during which time I met Girish, the son of Ithappa Poojary from Vamanjoor-Mangaluru who is having lorry/quarry business. My relationship with Girish landed up in both of us staying together for a while, and then we decided to get married at the Bellur Temple on Thursday 5 January 2005, even though there was a strong objection from my parents. But a few months ago I found out that Girish had married another woman the same month (29 January 2005) forced by his father to do so. But all these years my husband had kept this a secret having this marital affair with the other woman, also having two kids with her”.
“After coming to know about this cheating by my husband I decided to move to a rented house in Shakthinagar, and in the meantime constantly begged him to come and stay with me, but he has been ignoring my request. I am helpless now, having a 12-year-old son and no money to pay the rent. When I went to his house in Vamanjoor just to convince my husband to come back to me, but I was stopped from entering their house by his younger brother Jagga, his mother and his second wife- and they pushed me out and attacked me with a sickle on my head. I was quickly rushed to AJ Hospital since I was bleeding by nearby neighbours. I was released from the hospital the same night” added Lalitha.
She further said, “Next day I filed a complaint at the Pandeshwar Police Station (Women’s Section). Later I came to know that my husband had hired a lawyer, paid nearly Rs 50,000 for the case, and the case was closed in the police station, stating that I was mentally challenged. I also want to inform you that while I was admitted to the Hospital, they put me in the mental department ward. Since my husband’s family was reluctant in paying the hospital bill and also stating that I was mentally ill, I was advised to leave the hospital”.
“With no one to come to my rescue, in this case, I hereby beg the media to highlight my story and try to bring justice to me. Even my family members, including my parents, are avoiding me since being a Dalit woman I went against their will in marrying a man from the other community. I want to bring awareness about the atrocities happening to innocent women with my example so that justice should be done in such cases. I have been helped by a Women’s NGO in my marital problem, but I humbly request the media to highlight this issue, so that I can get justice and live a life without fear. I have already been threatened, harassed and beaten up by my husband- he has also given me a life threat. I am scared- I need the public support. Help me, I beg you all”, pleaded Lalitha with tears rolling down her eyes.
The only suggestion that the journos gave her, other than publishing her ordeal in their respective publications, was that Lalitha should personally meet the higher police authorities, like the Police Commissioner or DCP and explain her problems, and see what’s happening from there. And Laitha agreed to do so at the earliest.