GUWAHATI, Jan 12 - An Assamese girl who was �sold for marriage� from Morigaon district has died under mysterious circumstances in Haryana, barely four months after she was recalled by her husband, promising patch-up and a better life.
Shockingly, the family members of the victim were completely kept in the dark about the death of Junumoni Devi, and it was only after more than a week that they came to know about her fate through one of their acquaintances in Haryana.
Alleging foul play, her family members have now decided to register a complaint with police, both in Morigaon and Haryana, alleging foul play.
Junumoni, who was sold to a groom in Haryana for Rs 1 lakh a few years back, is one of the many cases of Assamese girls being sold to grooms in Haryana through human trafficking channels without following the prescribed legal guidelines. The Assam Tribune had last year reported about the plight of Junumoni and many such victims from poor family backgrounds who were subjected to inhuman behaviour meted out to her in Haryana.
National NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) said that the matter should be probed and a magisterial inquiry into the suspicious death of the victim should be ordered.
�Adequate compensation should also be given to the next-of-kin,� Rakesh Senger, director, BBA told this reporter.
Junumoni, during an interview with this correspondent last year had alleged that she was first taken to North India by one Babita Devi, promising job. However, she was made to marry Rajesh. Later did she came to know that Babita took Rs 1 lakh from her in-laws for arranging the marriage.
�It is a clear case of murder. Had it not been so, why were we not informed,� alleged family members of the victim. Although Junumoni died on January 1, family members alleged that they were kept in the dark about any such development.
The skewed sex-ratio in Haryana has, over the years, resulted in trafficking of many girls from poor family backgrounds from interior villages in Assam through middlemen who very often are human traffickers. Many of these marriages take place without any legal approval.
Junumoni Devi, who hailed from Jorabari village of Morigaon district, had even left her husband�s place at Kosli in Rewari and returned back to her native place in Morigaon in mid-2015, two years after her marriage. She had even lodged complaints at the local police station and also apprised the local woman rights organisation about the ordeal she had to face in Haryana.
�All she wanted was her child. However, her husband Rajesh (Kumar) and his parents did not agree. After she threatened to take legal action, Rajesh called her up and promised not to repeat his mistakes. We heard that she died on January 1 after a fall from the roof, which does not sound convincing at all� informed Aruna Devi, sister of the victim.
Aruna Devi informed that although Junumoni was reluctant to go back, Rajesh, however, convinced her to return to Haryana saying that their child was not keeping well.
�After she went, we could speak to her only once,� she added.
