UP: Sisters Get Justice Years After Father Burnt Their Mother To Death

Based on the testimony of his two sisters, who saw their father and some other relatives burn their mother alive in 2016 because she didn't have a son, a court in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, sentenced a 48-year-old man to life in prison on Wednesday. Tanya and Latika Bansal, who are now 18 and 20 years old, respectively, said that they are relieved that their father, Manoj Bansal, was punished as a result of a 6-year long legal battle.

Latika said that her father had murdered her mother for not giving birth to a son, adding, "My mother raised us with so much difficulty and that man burnt her alive. For us, he is just a demon. After a 6-year fight, his conviction is a relief to us. My sister and I were locked in a room and we were eyewitnesses to how our father and others burnt my mother."

UP Crimes Against Women: Woman Burnt Alive For Not Having A Son

Anu Bansal had two daughters after her marriage to Manoj, the accused, in 2000. Because her husband desired a boy, she allegedly underwent five forced abortions. She was repeatedly burned on June 14, 2016, by the accused after being tormented by Manoj and family members. On June 20, she died of serious burn injuries.

Anu's mother had reported the incident in an FIR. Latika, her eldest daughter, had addressed a letter begging for justice in the case to the then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. As per reports, she wrote some of that letter with her own blood. When questioned if the sisters were in the courtroom for the sentencing, Latika responded in affirmative.

"We did not say anything to him but he taunted us while being led away saying - you must feel nice now," she said. The two children who had witnessed their mother being doused in kerosene before she was set on fire, had locked themselves in a room as they watched their mother burn from the window.

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Sanjay Sharma, their advocate told the TOI about the crucial need for this verdict. To quote him, there are seven other accused in the case, all of those who identify as the family members of Manoj. With their cases pending in the High Court, Sharma confirmed that the hearing will take place in August.

Feature Image credit: NDTV