Kolkata, 24 August (H.S.): The husband of a 32-year-old woman who died by suicide in Gazole has been arrested by Gazole Police in connection with the case. The development came hours after relatives and a local Trinamool Congress panchayat member claimed that the woman had allegedly taken the extreme step after not receiving payments under the Annapurna scheme for three months.

The deceased, Anita Khatun (32), was found hanging at her in-laws’ residence in Bachahar village under Karkach Gram Panchayat in Gazole on Saturday morning. Her parental home is in the Ichahar area of Gazole.

Initially, Anita’s brother-in-law Samirul Rahman and local Trinamool panchayat member Mosarekul Anwar claimed that she had been under financial stress after allegedly not receiving the Annapurna scheme benefit for three months. They said she had reportedly argued with her husband over the issue before taking the extreme step.

However, police later said their preliminary investigation indicated that Anita’s husband, Inzamam-ul Haque, had allegedly created a false narrative about the non-payment of Annapurna benefits in an attempt to conceal his alleged wrongdoing.

Following a written complaint filed by Anita’s brother, Anisur Alam, police arrested Inzamam-ul Haque on Saturday night. He was produced before a Malda court on Sunday, which remanded him to six days of police custody.

Police have booked the accused on allegations including abetment of suicide and cruelty towards his wife. Investigators are also questioning him to determine the circumstances and alleged motive behind the incident.

Police said that on the day of the incident, the accused himself had informed Anita’s parental family over the phone about her death.

The allegations surrounding the Annapurna scheme have not been independently established. Those who had earlier attributed Anita’s death to the alleged non-payment of the scheme benefits did not make any fresh comment on Sunday.

Gazole Police said that a detailed investigation is underway to establish the exact sequence of events and determine whether any further criminal charges are warranted.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey