Beaten, branded by husband: Woman escapes, walks to police with chain on neck
For nearly 24 hours, an iron chain around her neck kept her tied to a pillar inside her home. Her husband allegedly branded her body
For nearly 24 hours, an iron chain around her neck kept her tied to a pillar inside her home. Her husband allegedly branded her body with a red-hot iron rod, beat her repeatedly and dared her to go to the police. By Friday night, the same woman was standing inside a police station in Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district - exhausted, bruised, her feet torn by thorns, and the chain that had been used to imprison her still hanging around her neck. Read Full Story The extraordinary escape led to the arrest of her husband, Sardar Singh Tanwar. 'NOW LET'S SEE HOW YOU GO TO THE POLICE' The victim, Mangibai Tanwar, told police that the violence began on the evening of June 10 when her husband returned home after drinking alcohol. After dinner, he allegedly started abusing her. When she objected, he walked outside, cut a tree branch and turned it into a stick. What followed, she alleged, was a brutal assault. She was beaten with the stick, slapped repeatedly and threatened. Unable to bear the violence, Mangibai decided to approach the police and quietly left home during the night. She walked for hours towards Khilchipur police station.
But before she could get there, her husband allegedly intercepted her near a temple, assaulted her again and forced her back to the village. Back home, the punishment became even harsher. Mangibai alleged that her husband wrapped an iron chain around her neck, secured the other end to a pillar and locked it. "Now let's see how you go to the police station and file a complaint against me," he allegedly told her. BRANDED WITH A HEATED IRON ROD The woman alleged that her husband then heated an iron rod on a gas stove and pressed it against her body. The burns, she said, were inflicted on her waist, hip and right thigh. She screamed in pain, but nobody came to help. For the next 24 hours, she remained captive inside the house. She was not allowed to leave or speak to anyone. According to her complaint, her husband was simultaneously trying to gather villagers for a panchayat and pressure her into abandoning any plan to approach the police. Fearing further violence, she pretended to agree. In reality, she was waiting for a chance to escape. THE STONE THAT SET HER FREE That opportunity arrived when her husband left the house to call villagers for the proposed panchayat.
Alone at last, Mangibai's eyes fell on a stone. She picked it up and began striking the lock. Once. Twice. Again and again. The lock refused to break. She kept hitting it. After several attempts, it finally gave way. The chain was broken. Her captivity was over. Without wasting a moment, she rushed out of the house and began walking towards Khilchipur. SIX KILOMETRES THROUGH THE DARK Night had fallen by then. Mangibai walked through isolated stretches, fields and rough paths with the broken chain and lock still dangling from her neck. Thorns pierced her feet. The journey left her legs scratched and bleeding. Still, she kept moving. People she passed along the way looked at the chain around her neck and assumed she was mentally unwell. Few stopped to ask questions. Fewer understood what the chain actually represented. One passer-by, however, noticed her distress and offered her something to eat. She then continued her journey to the police station. POLICE LEFT STUNNED When Mangibai entered Khilchipur police station at around 10 pm, even experienced police personnel were taken aback. The iron chain was still locked around her neck. Burn marks were visible on her body.
The BriefWire