Refused Egg Curry, Gurugram Man Kills Live-In Partner With Hammer

In a shocking incident, a man killed his live-in partner because she refused to make egg curry. The incident happened in Gurugram where accused Lallan Yadav, 35, beat Anjali, 32, with a belt and hammer. The Gurugram police have arrested Yadav after finding Anjali's body in an under-construction building in Chauma village on Saturday. 

As per reports, Lallan Yadav belongs to Aurahi village in Bihar's Madhepura district. During interrogation, he admitted that he killed his partner under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested by a police team of Palam Vihar Police Station from Delhi's Sarai Kale Khan area. The caretaker of the under-construction building had filed a complaint after spotting Anjali's body. 

Both Anjali and Lallan were working as labourers. While hiring, the two didn't disclose their real identity. Lallan introduced Anjali as his wife. But during the interrogation, he revealed that his wife died seven months ago after she succumbed to a snake bite. 

"After killing her, he fled. We have recovered the hammer and belt which were used in the murder and are questioning the accused," Naveen Kumar, ACP, Palam Vihar, said.

Another similar incident

This is not the first time that a man killed his partner because she didn't fulfil his demands. A husband beheaded his wife over a delay in serving him his morning tea. The incident happened on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, in Bhojpur village of Ghaziabad. Dharamaveer, a 52-year-old man, reportedly ended his wife's life following a heated argument that escalated over the time it would take to prepare a simple cup of tea. Sundari, a 50-year-old woman and mother of four, fell victim to this horrific act while their children lay asleep in another room, unaware of the nightmare unfolding within their home.

What do these incidents tell us? 

Killing a wife or partner over trivial issues shows a clear power play of gender. It shows how men exercise privilege and the power to dominate their female partners. They are ingrained with the stereotype that no matter how busy the partners are, fulfilling male partners' demands should be their priority. 

Just imagine, if a man feels entitled to hit and kill his wife for not making biryani, egg curry or tea, how unsafe women are in marriages even today? 

Even today, women are restricted to kitchen duties. They are expected to be loyal to their duties otherwise they might lose their lives. In such a scenario, can a woman feel safe to demand freedom from kitchen duties? Can a woman say that she wants to focus on her work post-marriage?

Why is it so difficult for society to understand that kitchen duties are not the forte of women? Why can't it accept that kitchen duties should be performed by men too? If society really wants women to perform the housework, then why can't it pay the bare minimum which is respect? Why does it treat  homemakers as slaves? 

Killing a partner for not cooking is a clear sign of slavery. It is the tragedy that unfolds if the stereotypes of gender roles make a permanent place in the mindsets of men. We might end up reporting more such tragedies if the mindsets are not rebooted.   

Views expressed are the author's own.