India: Woman Donates Kidney as Dowry, Then Kills Herself

A 28-year-old woman in eastern India is reported to have committed suicide in what appears to be a case of dowry death.

According to reports, Poonam Devi, mother of two, from Hazaribagh district in the state of Jharkhand, allegedly set herself on fire on 16 April.

She died as a result of her burn injuries at a hospital in the state capital Ranchi a week later, The Times of India reported.

District superintendent of police, Manoj Kaushik, said: "I have taken up the matter and action will be taken against the guilty after investigation."

Kidney as dowry

Devi donated one of her kidneys to her ailing husband Sudama Giri in a dowry deal with her in-laws about six months ago.

Devi's parents gave Rs 1.31 lakh (approximately £1,280) in dowry at the time of her marriage to Giri in 2006. But, according to Devi's family, her in-laws had been a constant nag asking for another Rs 25,000 as dowry from her father.

They were even torturing Devi for money, according to an FIR report filed by Devi's father.

Devi's in-laws reportedly put it in writing that they would treat her well if she donated her kidney for their son. Devi eventually agreed and donated a kidney to her husband.

However, the pestering for dowry money and torture continued, Devi's father alleged in his FIR report.

Police are yet to make any arrests in the case.