Patna: A woman from Bettiah has been arrested after allegedly killing her husband in Surat following months of physical and sexual abuse, police said.
The accused, identified as Ishrat Jahan, told authorities that her husband, Haider Ali, would allegedly force her into sexual activity and inflict injuries while under the influence of performance-enhancing drugs. The couple, both originally from Bettiah in Bihar, lived separately for work, with Ali employed in Mumbai and Jahan residing in Surat. He reportedly visited her once a month.
According to police, Jahan claimed that Ali’s behaviour escalated each month, with acts of violence leaving her bloodied and traumatised. “He would take sex-enhancing drugs and commit cruelty until blood flowed from their bodies,” she told investigators.
On January 1, Jahan allegedly laced turmeric milk with rat poison before giving it to her husband. When he weakened, she reportedly strangled him and applied pressure to his chest until he became unconscious. Ali was admitted to Smimer Hospital but died shortly after. Jahan initially claimed he had succumbed to illness.
Suspicion arose during disputes over his burial. Ali’s brother wanted to take the body to East Champaran in Bihar, but Jahan insisted on a Surat burial. Police were alerted after the brother questioned her insistence.
A forensic post-mortem confirmed the cause of death as asphyxiation caused by pressure on the neck and chest, rather than poisoning alone. Jahan reportedly confessed to strangling Ali after administering the poison.
Police said the primary motive appears to have been Ali’s abusive behaviour while under the influence of drugs. Investigations are ongoing to determine if others were involved in the incident.
