Thane: 23-year-old woman jumps off building with one-year-old daughter; both dead

Joy Square building. Pic/Rajesh Gupta

A 23-year-old woman jumped to death from the 6th floor with her one-year-old daughter over alleged harassment from her husband and in-laws. The woman had called her sister before suicide and told her she couldn't take the torture anymore. She also wrote a WhatsApp status at 1:14 am and jumped from the balcony. Kasarvadavali cops have booked three persons including their husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law for abetting suicide.

Priyanka married Mahesh Mohite in November 2018 after a love affair. They were living at Joy Square, Kasarvadavali along with Mahesh's mother Vithabai and sister Meenakshi. Priyanka was allegedly tortured by Mahesh and others over money. Hrushikesh Patil, cousin brother of Priyanka said, "Since the beginning of marriage my sister was tortured by her husband and laws. To pacify the situation we also had a family meeting a few months back in which Mahesh had assured me he wouldn't drink alcohol anymore and wouldn't fight with my sister, but it turned out to be hollow assurance. The torture continued" he said.

On Thursday night around 10.30 pm, an altercation occurred between Mahesh and Priyanka as she said she wanted to go to Satara to meet her sister. "Her husband didn't allow her claiming the baby is small and travelling won't be good for her. The argument escalated and Mahesh hit Priyanka," said Assistant Police Inspector Suhas Hattekar. Mahesh's mother Vithabai and sister Meenakshi also joined him and abused her.

"Around this time she (Priyanka) called me and said, she won't be coming to her place in the future. I heard in the background Mahesh was yelling at her. I asked to keep her calm and she hung up. At 1.14 am I saw two statuses kept by her which shook me up as she had mentioned committing suicide" said Bhagyashree Patil, younger sister of Priyanka.

In her WhatsApp status, Priyanka blamed her husband Mahesh, mother-in-law Vithabai and sister-in-law Meenakshi for her suicide. After which, she allegedly jumped from the balcony of the 6th floor where they were living. Both were rushed to a nearby hospital where Priyanka and her daughter were declared dead on arrival. Mahesh works as a fleet cab driver, while Priyanka is a housewife. Based on the statement of Priyanka's brother and family Kasarvadavali cops have booked a trio under IPC section 306 (abetting suicide), 498A (Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and 34 (common intention). The process to arrest the accused is underway.