Family alleges murder days after woman’s body recovered in Anantnag; police probe on

Anantnag: Family members of a woman whose body was recovered in Anantnag district on Sunday alleged that she was murdered and demanded strict action against the accused, even as police have registered a case and launched a detailed investigation.

The deceased has been identified as Heena Jan, wife of Shabir Ahmad Zargar of Hazratbal, Anantnag, police said. Her body was recovered from the Aripat River at Ashajipora, near a nallah behind the Government Medical College (GMC) at Janglat Mandi.

After completing medico-legal formalities, Anantnag Police handed over the body to her family members.

The family alleged that Heena Jan was subjected to continuous harassment over money and claimed that her husband was a drug addict. They alleged that out of around Rs 30 lakh given to her by her brother, the husband had taken Rs20 lakh, along with a load carrier vehicle, and repeatedly forced her to bring more money.

“She was married for five years and was harassed on a daily basis. She was beaten regularly and on one occasion was even given an electric shock,” a family member told reporters, adding that she was recently forced to obtain documents related to her parents’ house.

A cousin of the deceased alleged that when police visited the husband’s residence during the investigation, they found the couple’s four-year-old daughter, who appeared frightened and asked even police personnel to leave, saying her father would beat her.

The family further alleged that Heena Jan had earlier stayed at her parental home due to harassment and returned only after counselling by relatives. “We came to know about her death only after a neighbour showed us her photograph on social media,” the cousin said, adding that Anantnag police helped in identifying the body.

Blaming drug abuse for the incident, the family said the menace was “destroying families and killing the youth,” and demanded justice.

Police said they have taken cognisance of the matter and that all aspects of the case are being investigated.