There is a story similar to the one in the Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, which has occurred in the Sahibganj district of Jharkhand as well. A man claims that he educated his wife and trained her as a nurse, but now she refuses to stay with him.
The man alleges that he spent approximately 4.5 lakh rupees on his wife’s education, but when she started working, she refused to acknowledge him. The man also states that his wife has been missing since April 14, 2023, and they have a 10-year-old son together. The man has now approached the district court, the District Collector, and the Police Superintendent, seeking justice.
The man claims that he worked as a labourer and drove a tractor in Gujarat to educate his wife. The man Kanhai alleges that his wife ran away with 28,000 rupees and jewellery. He has appealed to the authorities for justice. This entire case is from Banji Bazaar under the Boriyo block in Sahibganj district.
Kanhai Pandit, a resident of Banji Bazaar, got married to Kalpana Kumari from Telo, Bathan Toli, in 2009. After marriage, Kalpana expressed her desire to continue her education. Kanhai claimed that he was unable to continue his wife’s education due to financial constraints, but he agreed to her insistence.
Continuing with the poor financial situation, Kanhai arranged for a house in Boriyo and got his wife admitted to Shibu Soren Tribal College. Kalpana studied here for five years and then expressed her desire to undergo nursing training. Kanhai took a loan and got Kalpana admitted to a nursing college in Jamshedpur. Kanhai claims that he himself went with his wife to the nursing training center in Jamshedpur and paid a cash fee of two lakh rupees. Kalpana underwent two years of ANM training here.
Expenses incurred in education amounting to 4.5 lakh rupees
Kanhai claims that apart from paying a two lakh rupee fee, he spent 2.5 lakh rupees on Kalpana’s education, rent, study materials, and other necessities over the course of two years. As a result, he fell into debt. When his wife completed her training and returned, she joined as a nurse at Jumavati Nursing Home in Sahibganj. Meanwhile, Kanhai continued to work as a tractor driver and labourer to repay his debts. In the midst of this, one day his wife told him that it was impossible to pay off the debt with a daily income of 200-250 rupees. She suggested that he should find work outside. Kanhai said that he also agreed with his wife’s suggestion because she was educated, and he thought she would think of what was best for the family. That’s why he went back to Gujarat to earn money.
The wife sets fire to the house
In late 2019, Kanhai Pandit went to Gujarat, and in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit India. In March 2020, a national lockdown was implemented. Kanhai wanted to return home, but his wife refused, saying there was no work for him there, so he should stay there. Kanhai tearfully states that he continued to go to work during the lockdown, facing police beatings. He survived on meagre meals, sometimes just rice, and sent money home every month. He not only fulfilled the family’s needs but also repaid the debt. Even during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Kanhai was in Gujarat.
During this time, one day his wife informed him that their house had caught fire, but some belongings were saved. This included property documents, other educational documents, beds, tables, chairs, clothes, and a trunk. The wife said that she had kept all the belongings at her maternal home. Kanhai, however, claims that their home was intentionally set on fire by his wife.
