Mystery shrouds the death of a housewife whose body was found inside her in-law's house at Bawali under Nodakhali police station in South 24 Parganas on Thursday.
The incident occurred within two weeks of her marriage, triggering tension in the locality after it came to light. Police have arrested Kunal Adhikari, the husband of the victim in this connection so far.
The victim's family members have alleged that the woman was forced to consume insecticides by her husband and in-laws. The local residents staged a demonstration in front of the police station demanding stringent punishment for the accused, who is thought to have carried out the murder.
After her marriage to Kunal, the victim had allegedly come to know that her husband was involved in an extramarital affair with another woman.
This had led to a quarrel between the couple. When she started protesting against the illicit relationship, she was tortured by her husband. It has also been alleged that the deceased woman was subjected to physical assault in her in-law's house as her father failed to pay the dowry they had demanded. The local people alleged that the woman was beaten up by her husband when she protested against his extramarital affair.
The locals had found the woman lying dead in her room, after which they immediately informed the local police station. Police reached the spot and recovered the body. According to the preliminary investigation, police suspect that the victim was forced to consume poison. The body was sent for a post-mortem on Thursday and the police are awaiting the report.
The victim's family members have lodged a complaint against her husband on the basis of which police have started a probe. The authorities are currently interrogating the victim's family members and in-laws in this connection.