Suspected AIDS patient allegedly killed by in-laws

BHUBANESWAR: A woman in Orissa suspected of having contracted AIDS was allegedly beaten to death by her in-laws, police said on Sunday.

Sabita Behera, 30, a resident of Keutunga village in Puri district, 50 km from here, was allegedly murdered because the in-laws suspected she was an AIDS patient, police officer Guruprasad Shib Sankar Nanda said.

"The incident took place on Friday night but came to light only after her father Dhuleswar Behera lodged a complaint with us Saturday evening," Nanda said.

Sabita, whose husband Kailash Behera died of a liver disease three years ago, had two children aged 6 and 8. She had reportedly been subject to humiliation by her in-laws ever since Kailash died.

Sabita's troubles doubled when she came down with fever a couple of days ago. Thinking it to be symptoms of AIDS, her in-laws beat her to death, her father Dhuleswar told the police.

"We have detained two of her brothers-in-law, Prafulla and Ajay, and have started investigation," Nanda said.