Woman kills husband, but freed on grounds of private defence

A woman, who killed her husband after he attacked her in an inebriated state and also attempted to rape their daughter, has been set free by police on grounds of "private defence".

"Investigations proved that it was an act of private self-defence and to safeguard her daughter's modesty. So, Police released Usha Rani charged with murdering her husband," Superintendent of Police Asra Garg said.

She was freed yesterday by invoking IPC section 100 which states, among its provisions, the right of private defence of the body extends to the voluntary causing of death or any other harm to the assailant, if the offence which occasions the exercise of the right is an assault with the intention of committing rape.

Police said Usha Rani had problems with her husband since 1995 and the couple had been living separately for several months. There were complaints against the husband in many police stations stating that he harassed the family.

On Thursday, he tried to persuade his wife to stay with him, but when she refused, he tried to misbehave with their daughter following which Usha hit him with a cricket bat, police said. He collapsed and was declared dead in hospital, police said, adding, a case of murder was registered.

Since the woman had confessed to having committed the crime, she was detained for interrogation, police said. Usha told police that she acted only to save her daughter from being a victim of physical abuse, police added.