NCRB data covering 2020 to 2024 shows that 785 husbands were k*lled by their wives across five states—Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh—following domestic disputes linked to dowry, abuse, or infidelity. That averages to roughly one case every two days.
Uttar Pradesh reported the most with 274 cases, followed by Bihar with 185, Rajasthan 138, Maharashtra 100, and Madhya Pradesh 79. Experts say intimate partner homicides overall—regardless of gender—were reported in over 220 cases involving husbands and around 270 involving wives in 2022 alone. Violence, dowry pressures, and prolonged domestic disputes often fuel these brutal crimes.
Several recent incidents have drawn national attention. In Meerut, a woman and her lover allegedly k*lled and stuffed her husband’s body into a cement drum. In Meghalaya, newlywed Sonam Raghuvanshi was accused of plotting her husband Raja’s mu*der during their honeymoon using a temple visit as cover. In Agra, a woman confessed to k*lling her husband after years of being forced into prostitution. In Odisha, Amar Nayak was strangled to death by his wife following a heated argument.
Men’s rights groups are demanding gender-neutral domestic violence laws, along with shelters and helplines for male victims. They argue the current legal framework, which focuses primarily on protecting women, leaves men vulnerable and unsupported. With public pressure growing, officials face urgent calls to ensure equal justice and protection for all spouses. Are reforms overdue?
