Imphal, Sept. 26: Meghalaya State Women’s Commission member Sophie Marak certainly does not believe in stretching her ideology beyond her office premises.

Charged with abusing her daughter-in-law for dowry, Marak failed to appear before an Imphal court that had summoned her today for a trial.

Her daughter-in-law, Urmila Chanam, is from the Manipur capital.

Marak’s son and co-accused, John, however, appeared before the court of the first class judicial magistrate today under heavy security.

Urmila filed a petition earlier this month in this court accusing her doctor husband and mother-in-law of abusing her physically and mentally.

She also lodged a complaint with the Tura police. The case was filed under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

In her petition, Urmila prayed for an interim relief of Rs 50,000 and a final compensation of Rs 10 lakh from her husband and mother-in-law for the trauma she underwent since she married John in 2000.

She also demanded a separate accommodation for herself and her son.

The scene at the court today betrayed the tension between the couple.

John had sought security guards fearing that he might be abducted on his way to the court.

The Imphal city police station provided an escort to the accused following a directive from the court on September 19.

The security personnel remained on guard at the door of the court during the hearing.

Before declaring tomorrow as the next the date of the hearing, the judge allowed the Imphal West district protection officer, Achou Singh, to counsel the couple outside the court room.

For nearly an hour, the protection officer spoke to the couple on the verandah of a canteen located on the court complex at Lamphel in Imphal West district.

Seated on the either side of the protection officer, the couple was heard quarrelling.

The judge, Noutuneshwari Devi, said the next hearing would be held tomorrow to allow the protection officer to continue with the counselling session.