Two recent killings of young women in Uttar Pradesh have again brought attention to the continuing problem of dowry-related violence in India.

In Greater Noida, 26-year-old Nikki Bhati was allegedly set on fire by her husband, Vipin Bhati, and his family after she could not meet their dowry demands. According to police, Vipin tried to grab a police officer’s pistol and escape from custody, but he was shot in the leg before being caught. Vipin, his brother Rohit, and their parents have now been arrested.

Just a few days later, in Amroha district, 32-year-old Parul faced a similar tragic end. She was also allegedly set on fire by her husband, a serving police constable named Devendra, along with his family members. Parul’s brother filed a complaint naming six accused: Devendra, his mother, and four other relatives – Sonu, Gajesh, Jitendra, and Santosh.

These two cases are part of a much bigger issue. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the numbers are alarming. In 2022, over 6,000 women were killed due to dowry disputes across India. This is more than 25 times the number of women murdered after rape or gang rape in the same year.

Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of dowry deaths at 2,138, followed by Bihar (1,057), Madhya Pradesh (518), and West Bengal (472). Southern states, including Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, together reported 442 deaths.

The NCRB also stated that 60,577 cases of dowry deaths were pending in courts at the end of 2022, with only 33 per cent of trials that year ending in convictions.

These figures show that while laws like the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, exist, the practice still continues in many parts of India, destroying families and lives.

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