Greater Noida, September 26: A 32-year-old woman died by suicide in Greater Noida after alleged harassment by her husband and mother-in-law for not bearing a male child, police said on Friday.
The victim, identified as Ritu Tomar, had been married to Sonu Malik (37) since 2014. The couple had two daughters. According to family members, Ritu was repeatedly pressured for a son and subjected to harassment by her in-laws.
On Tuesday, Ritu was found dead at her residence in Lakhnawali village. Following a complaint by her family, police registered a case under Section 85 (cruelty by husband or relatives of husband) and Section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Three days after the incident, police arrested Sonu and his mother, Shakuntala (58). “Both accused have been taken into custody and are being sent to judicial custody,” an officer confirmed.
The accused, originally from Baghpat district, had been living in Surajpur. Ritu’s body was sent for postmortem, and further investigation is underway.
The case has once again sparked concerns about gender bias and mental health challenges faced by women, with activists calling for stronger community awareness and stricter enforcement of laws protecting women’s rights.