Crime

Indian Woman Says Her Husband Stole Her Kidney

In lieu of a dowry

Police have arrested an Indian woman’s husband and brother-in-law over allegations they stole and sold off her kidney after her family did not pay her dowry.

As the BBC reports, the woman’s husband allegedly organised appendicitis surgery for the West Bengal woman two years ago after she complained of pain in her abdomen.  

The 28-year-old woman, Rita Sarkar, has told police that her husband actually had her kidney removed on the pretext of the appendicitis operation in Kolkata.

“My husband took me to a private nursing home in Kolkata, where he and the medical staff told me that I would be fine after removing my inflamed appendix through surgery,” she said, the Hindustan Times reports

“My husband warned me not to disclose the surgery in Kolkata to anyone.”

But when Ms Sarkar began to feel ill in late 2017, her family took her to the doctors and found out she was actually missing her right kidney. A scan and second medical examination confirmed the missing organ.

“I then understood why my husband implored me to keep quiet about the surgery,” she said.

“He sold my kidney because my family couldn’t meet his demand for dowry.”

Ms Sarkar alleges her husband had made continual demands for a dowry, which have been banned in India since 1961. 

Inspector-in-charge of Farakka, Udayshankar Ghosh, told The Telegraph: “We suspect the involvement of a racket. A case was registered under provisions of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act. We have also charged three persons with attempt to murder and bride torture.”

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