Sumati Yengkhom, TNN | Jun 30, 2012, 02.52AM IST
Barasat: Angry with his wife for seeking a divorce, a 25-year-old man allegedly hacked her with a sickle inside the Barasat court premises on Friday morning as dozens of lawyers looked on horrified. The victim is fighting for life in a hospital.
It was the couple's first meeting since they filed for mutual divorce this April. During the emotionally charged discussions, Jayanti, 22, stepped out of the lawyer's chamber for a breath of air. Husband Prasenjit Majhi pulled out a sickle from his red tote bag and attacked her from behind, police said. The first blow landed at the base of her head. As she staggered, Prasenjit yanked out the blade and struck her at least three more times, police said. Their love marriage is barely 15 months old.
Prasenjit would have continued hitting her had not some lawyers wrestled him away from Jayanti, who was rescued by a brave court clerk. When TOI reached the spot minutes later, some lawyers and court staff stood in shock, blood splattered on their clothes.
'Depressed' hubby tried to woo back wife before attack
Prasenjit's mother Sarati sat inside the chamber, still shaking in horror. A little while earlier, Prasenjit was pleading with his wife not to leave him, said his lawyer Chitradip Dhar.
"Since the time the divorce petition was filed, Prasenjit has been depressed and quiet. He would brood and wonder why the marriage didn't work. He sometimes mumbled that if Jayanti cannot be his wife, she wouldn't be anyone else's either. I never thought he actually meant to attack her," said Sarati.
Prasenjit, a Canning resident, and Jayanti, who was then a fresh HS passout, married on March 21, 2011, after a few months of courtship. She wanted to study further but her in-laws apparently did not allow her. This was the first of the differences that eventually soured the marriage. Jayanti began living at her parents' home more often. Prasenjit, who was very much in love with his wife but unable to stand by her, used to visit her and occasionally stayed over with her. He tried to coax her to return but she refused.
Their marriage fell apart in September 2011 when Jayanti left her in-laws' house forever. Shattered, Prasenjit quit his job with a private firm. He grew depressed but continued to nurse a hope that Jayanti would return. Their case was set for hearing in December, and their lawyers asked them to come to the court around noon on Friday to discuss the case.
Even in the lawyers' chamber, Prasenjit desperately tried to woo back Jayanti, but she remained firm. Around 12.40pm, she got tired of Prasenjit's pleas and decided to step out for a break. Prasenjit followed her with a sickle in his hand and struck before anyone could react, say witnesses. Court clerk Som Sarkar risked his life and threw himself in between Prasenjit and Jayanti. He pulled her aside as a group of lawyers and bystanders pinned Prasenjit down.
Jayanti was taken to Barasat district hospital where she is in a critical condition with skull fractures and deep gashes.
"We witnessed the crime but were so shocked that it took a while to reach. I have fought many a criminal case but this was the most shocking as it happened before our eyes and without any provocation. There was no way we could have known what was coming," said Joydeb Ghosh Dastidar, Jayanti's lawyer. Police have detained Prasenjit and his mother. They suspect Prasenjit came prepared for the attack and will charge him with attempted murder.
Link: Wife hacked during divorce hearing
It was the couple's first meeting since they filed for mutual divorce this April. During the emotionally charged discussions, Jayanti, 22, stepped out of the lawyer's chamber for a breath of air. Husband Prasenjit Majhi pulled out a sickle from his red tote bag and attacked her from behind, police said. The first blow landed at the base of her head. As she staggered, Prasenjit yanked out the blade and struck her at least three more times, police said. Their love marriage is barely 15 months old.
Prasenjit would have continued hitting her had not some lawyers wrestled him away from Jayanti, who was rescued by a brave court clerk. When TOI reached the spot minutes later, some lawyers and court staff stood in shock, blood splattered on their clothes.
'Depressed' hubby tried to woo back wife before attack
Prasenjit's mother Sarati sat inside the chamber, still shaking in horror. A little while earlier, Prasenjit was pleading with his wife not to leave him, said his lawyer Chitradip Dhar.
"Since the time the divorce petition was filed, Prasenjit has been depressed and quiet. He would brood and wonder why the marriage didn't work. He sometimes mumbled that if Jayanti cannot be his wife, she wouldn't be anyone else's either. I never thought he actually meant to attack her," said Sarati.
Prasenjit, a Canning resident, and Jayanti, who was then a fresh HS passout, married on March 21, 2011, after a few months of courtship. She wanted to study further but her in-laws apparently did not allow her. This was the first of the differences that eventually soured the marriage. Jayanti began living at her parents' home more often. Prasenjit, who was very much in love with his wife but unable to stand by her, used to visit her and occasionally stayed over with her. He tried to coax her to return but she refused.
Their marriage fell apart in September 2011 when Jayanti left her in-laws' house forever. Shattered, Prasenjit quit his job with a private firm. He grew depressed but continued to nurse a hope that Jayanti would return. Their case was set for hearing in December, and their lawyers asked them to come to the court around noon on Friday to discuss the case.
Even in the lawyers' chamber, Prasenjit desperately tried to woo back Jayanti, but she remained firm. Around 12.40pm, she got tired of Prasenjit's pleas and decided to step out for a break. Prasenjit followed her with a sickle in his hand and struck before anyone could react, say witnesses. Court clerk Som Sarkar risked his life and threw himself in between Prasenjit and Jayanti. He pulled her aside as a group of lawyers and bystanders pinned Prasenjit down.
Jayanti was taken to Barasat district hospital where she is in a critical condition with skull fractures and deep gashes.
"We witnessed the crime but were so shocked that it took a while to reach. I have fought many a criminal case but this was the most shocking as it happened before our eyes and without any provocation. There was no way we could have known what was coming," said Joydeb Ghosh Dastidar, Jayanti's lawyer. Police have detained Prasenjit and his mother. They suspect Prasenjit came prepared for the attack and will charge him with attempted murder.
Link: Wife hacked during divorce hearing
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