Tumakuru: Parents in bondage to save daughter!

TUMAKURU: In a bizarre incident, the parents of G.R. Shashikala, a poor woman of Koratagere taluk, have become bonded labourers attached to a landlord in Tumakuru, to satisfy the greed of their son-in-law and to free their daughter from dowry harassment.

Shashikala a resident of Motagondanahalli in Koratagere, the home constituency of Home Minster Dr G. Parameshwar, had married M.H. Bhimaraya about six years ago.

It was a love marriage and was registered at the sub-registrar office in Koratagere as per the wishes of family members of the woman.

After about two years, the family members of Bhimaraya including his mother Arasamma, started harassing Shashikala for dowry.

According to a complaint filed at Koratagere police station, Shashikala did not reveal the dowry harassment to her family members fearing it would affect adversely her parents. When she finally opened up, the parents tried to get money from private money lenders, but failed.

They then took Rs 1 lakh from landlord Nazir Ahmed of Oordigere village in Tumakuru Rural taluk and agreed to become his bonded labourers for two years.

According to Shashikala’s brother Prakash, his parents have been working with the landlord for a year. The money received from Nazir Ahmed, was given to his sister’s mother-in-law Arasamma about five months ago.

But the sad part is that the harassment has not stopped yet. “My sister is at our house for the past several months. I hope the police complaint on the issue might help us”, said Prakash. When contacted, Koratagere police inspector Muniraju S. said, “I don’t believe they are bonded labourers. As per my information they are working as coolies in the garden of Nazir Ahmed”. However, he said the police would investigate the issue.