JD-U leader accused of killing daughter-in-law for dowry

Patna: A Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district has allegedly killed his daughter-in-law for dowry and a case has been filed against him, officials said on Wednesday.

JD-U leader Arun Kushwaha has been named an accused along with his wife and son for killing his daughter-in-law Reena Devi for dowry.

"An FIR has been lodged against Arun Kushwaha, his wife and son for killing Reena Devi for dowry and police have began an investigation into it," police officer Rambalak Yadav said on Wednesday.

The allegation against the leader of the state's ruling party has surfaced just two days after a massive campaign against child marriage and dowry was launched by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Reena Devi married Dipak Kumar in 2015 and the couple has an 11-month-old child. 

According to the police, Reena's father Mahesh Bhagat, a resident of Vaishali district, in his complaint said his daughter was killed by Arun Kushwaha along with other members of his family for dowry.

"We had given cash, jewellery and other gift items at the time of marriage but my daughter's in laws were demanding a four-wheeled vehicle. When I expressed my inability, they started torturing my daughter to put pressure on me," Bhagat said in the written complaint.

However, JD-U leader Kushwaha refuted it and said allegations against him were baseless. "Reena was not well for last six months and she died after fasting on Durga Puja".

None other than Nitish Kumar revealed that Bihar ranks second in the country after neighbouring Uttar Pradesh when it comes to dowry-related cases. 

Last year, 987 cases of dowry deaths were registered in Bihar, while there were 4,852 cases of dowry-related atrocities.