- (1.) The victim was married to Joydeb Sau @ Shaw at an early age. From the evidence it would appear that she was a minor when she was married. She was not so expert in the household work which annoyed her in-laws, particularly her Mother-in-law who constantly tortured her from the day one. Such torture was not only mental but also physical. Her father-in-law Paresh Shaw and her husband must have a tacit approval to such torture. However, we do not find any definite evidence as against those two male accused save and except the contemporaneous complaint lodged by Putul's parents before the Panchayat earlier. Putul once tried to commit suicide by taking poison on 8th Chaitra, 1394 when she was admitted to hospital. After recovery she was again sent to her in-law's place after a village compromise had at the Manik Bazar Gram Panchayat Office in presence of both parties. The compromise was reduced to writing as asserted by Putul's maternal uncle. Despite such compromise the torture continued to happen. Her Mother-in-law Shakti Shaw kicked her in her belly while she was carrying. On June 24, 1988 at about 11.00 a.m. Putul died an unnatural death. As per the complaint she was wrapped in clothes when her Mother-in-law poured kerosene on her and set fire. We find from the complaint that the father-in-law, sisters-in-law as well as her husband also assisted Shakti, the Mother-in-law in committing such crime. Both sisters-in-law were minor at that time. They were separately tried where they were acquitted. On a close analysis of the evidence we however do not find any clinching evidence as against the husband or the father-in-law.
(2.) As per the complaint, the police took action and arrested the husband Joydev, father-in-law Paresh, Mother-in-law Shakti and two minor sisters-in-law Pratima Shaw and Purnima Shaw. They were charge sheeted. As observed hereinbefore, Pratima and Purnima were tried separately and were acquitted. Joydev, Paresh and Shakti denied the charge and faced trial. PW- 1 (Swapan Kumar Pal):
(3.) P.W. 1, the maternal uncle was the complainant. He was consistent while deposing at the trial. He stated what had been stated by him in his complaint. PW-2 (Sabita Bala Patra):;