Woman stabbed to death in Dausa court

Jaipur: A 50-year-old woman was stabbed to death by her estranged husband inside a court complex in Dausa on Wednesday morning. The accused was booked by Kotwali police station under Section 302 (murder).

Sheela Devi was taken to the nearby hospital where doctors declared her brought dead. A native of Harsoli in Alwar, Sheela had come to the court of additional district judge (ADJ) and was waiting under a tin shed when the accused, Amar Chand, rushed towards her and stabbed her at least 15 times.

She fell on the ground, writhing in pain while the lawyers and policemen in civil dress overpowered the accused.

According to Dausa police, Sheela and Amar Chand had been living separately and there was a case of legal dispute going on in the court. On Wednesday, the final arguments were to be heard by the court and a judgement was soon expected in the matter. “She was waiting with her lawyers under the shed when the accused approached her. He drew out a knife, pulled her by hair and began stabbing her. The shocked lawyers tried to drag him away but she had already fallen on the ground in a pool of blood,” said an official, adding that the lawyers and cops immediately rushed towards her and overpowered the accused.

According to SP (Dausa), Prahlad Singh, the accused had filed a case in 2013 against his wife and brother-in-law that they had forcefully married his deaf and mute daughter. “This led to separation between the couple and the decision was to be announced on Wednesday. The accused said that he had decided to assault his wife on Tuesday night and accordingly took out a nine-inch long knife,” he said, adding that recently the couple’s son had met with an accident, and there was another dispute over the claim money.

The police said that Amar Chand too sustained some minor injuries in the scuffle. “Sheela’s relatives have filed an FIR at the Kotwali police station against Amar Chand. The accused has been arrested,” the official added.

In addition to a long legal battle, Sheela and Amar Chand also had other disputes, some of which had reached the court. Initial investigation indicates that the accused had planned the murder well in advance. “He knew that the case was about to reach its culmination. Therefore, he hid a sharp knife under his shirt and stabbed her in an unbridled manner,” the official added.