Man strangles wife to death for refusing him sex as he was diagnosed with dengue fever

A man from the north Indian state of Haryana allegedly killed his wife after she resisted his attempt to have sex with her because he was diagnosed with dengue fever.

The incident happened on Tuesday (14 November) night when Sanjiv Kumar tried to have sex with his wife Suman but when she showed no interest, he reportedly strangled her to death in a fit of rage, The Times of India reported.

Kumar, a painter by profession, was married to the 30-year-old victim for more than 10 years and have two children with her. He confessed to the crime after he was arrested, police officer Ramesh Jaglan told the BBC.

"During investigation, Sanjiv confessed he wanted to have intercourse with his wife, but she refused. After she scolded the accused for trying to force himself on her, Sanjiv lost his cool and strangled her, leading to her death," Station House Officer (SHO) Ramesh Kumar said. A murder case has been registered against the 35-year-old Kumar.

Police said Kumar told them that his wife had been refusing to have physical relations with him for some days after he was diagnosed with symptoms of dengue fever.

This is not the first time a murder has happened in India over refusal of sex. In May 2016, a man from the city of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh state allegedly killed his wife for refusing to have sex with him and dumped her body in a dry well. He was held after a missing person complaint was lodged by the victim's sister.

Domestic violence and marital rape have been one of the most reported crimes against women in India for decades. In recent years, the demand for criminalising marital rape has increased in the country.

Women's organisations have recently asked the Supreme Court of India to declare as unconstitutional the law that defines rape, arguing that it discriminates against married women being sexually assaulted by their husbands.