Sikh Woman's Suicide Following Years Of Domestic Abuse In New York Sparks Anger

The suicide of a 30-year-old Indian woman in New York has caused a massive uproar among the community in the U.S. and in India. A video of the woman, Mandeep Kaur, being physically tortured by her husband, Ranjotveer Singh Sandhu, in their New York residence went viral on social media.

Mandeep Kaur recorded a video narrating her ordeal and uploaded it on social media, following which she died by suicide on August 3.

In the video, the Sikh woman can be seen distressed and crying as she details her ordeal of being repeatedly beaten by her husband on a daily basis for dowry and for not bearing a son. The family lived in Queens.

"I tolerated all of it, hoping that he will mend his ways one day," the victim said in her native tongue in the video.

Kaur shared her heart-wrenching story in Punjabi and blamed her husband and in-laws for "forcing" her to end her life.

"The people responsible for my death are my husband and my in-laws. They didn't let me live. He has been beating me for the past 8 years," she said.

Another video that went viral on the internet purportedly shows Kaur being beaten up by her husband.

The Indian consulate in New York issued a statement and noted that they are in touch with the U.S. authorities to offer necessary assistance.

"We are deeply saddened by the death of Mandeep Kaur in Queens, New York under most tragic circumstances. We are in touch with the US authorities at Federal and local level as well as the community. We stand ready to render all assistance," the tweet read.

Kaur moved to the United States from Bijnor in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, after marrying Sandhu. She is survived by her two daughters aged 4 and 6, who are currently in their father's custody.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Mandeep Kaur's sister Kuldeep shared tragic details of the difficulties she faced in her marriage of eight years with Sandhu.

U.S. authorities have also launched an independent investigation into the matter.

As the jarring video of her abuse went viral on social media, netizens started sharing messages on domestic abuse and challenges faced by women for dowry. Using #JusticeForMandeepKaur, social media users have been demanding the Indian authorities take steps to ensure her abuser faces the consequences.

An FIR was registered against the husband and in-laws by the Uttar Pradesh Police under sections of abetment of suicide and domestic violence, DNA India reported. Jaspal Singh, Kaur's father, has named Sandhu and his parents, father Mukhtar Singh and mother Kuldeep Raj Kaur, as well as his brother, Jasveer Singh in the FIR.

"They often asked my daughter for ₹25 lakh ($31,000) cash and a luxury car. When she denied accepting their terms, they used to physically torture her in order to convey their demand to us," Singh said while speaking to the media.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.