Husband thrashes wife with wooden plank suspecting her

A man allegedly thrashed his wife with a wooden plank and then branded her with an hot iron rod in Jajpur district suspecting her infidelity, police said Sunday.

The woman, identified as Jhuma Kajual (29), received grievous injuries following the attack on Saturday night, was admitted to the Jajpur Road area hospital in a critical condition, they said.

Later, she was shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack after her condition deteriorated, Inspector-in-Charge of Jajpur Road police station, Amitabh Mohapatra said.

The accused, identified as Rabi Kajual, 34, a father of two, had fled from the scene soon after committing the offences and he was held later, police said.

Police said, Rabi fell in love with Jhuma, while he was working in a courier company in Bhubaneswar about eight years ago. Later, they go married and then Rabi brought her to his native Sapagadia Padmapur village. The couple has a five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son.

Rabi came home on Saturday night and found her wife talking on her mobile phone. Both entered into an argument as Rabi wanted to know from Juhuma with whom was she talking on mobile phone, they said.

"Rabi was angry over his wife talking on phone. He dragged her into a room and bolted the door from inside. Suspecting her integrity and character, he thrashed Jhuma with a wooden plank injuring her grievously, said the IIC.

Later, the furious husband branded Jhuma with a hot iron rod on her entire body, he said.

The incident occurred while their children were playing outside the house, police said.

Jhuma cried out of pain and screamed for help. After hearing her screams, the neighbours rescued her in critical condition and took her local hospital.

Meanwhile, the treating doctors at the Jajpur Road hospital alerted the local police about the incident and on being informed police reached the hospital Saturday night. Later, the injured woman was shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack as her condition deteriorated.

Meanwhile, police have detained the accused and investigation into the incident is on.