Jajpur, May 29 (PTI): Wife of an assistant agricultural officer working with Barachana block here has accused her husband and his family members of dowry harassment and physical torture, police said on Friday.

The 26-year-old woman is also a government employee and works as gram panchayat technical assistant (GPTA) in Bhandaripokari block in the neighbouring Bhadrak district.

Monalisa Sethy has named her husband Tusharkanta Sethy, father-in-law Madhabananda, mother-in-law Mandodari, brother-in-law Srikrushna and sister-in-law Tapaswini in her complaint, they said.

"We have registered a case following Monalisa's complaint and investigating into the matter," said Madhusmita Mohanty, inspector in-charge of Kuakhia police station. No one has been arrested so far, she said.

Monalisa, of Sathipur village married Tushakanta of Adampur village in June last year. As demanded, a car, Rs 50,000 in cash, an air-conditioner, 350 grams of gold ornaments and other household articles were given to the groom's family as dowry at the time of marriage, she said in the complaint.

"A few days after the marriage, my husband and his family members started torturing me, both physically and mentally, demanding another Rs 5 lakh cash in dowry. When their torture became unbearable, I left the in-laws' house and returned to my paternal home in January this year. I have been staying with my parents since then," Monalisa said.

"My husband used to threaten me to come back with Rs 5 lakh in cash as dowry," she said.

Monalisa also said that her parents had given cash and kind worth over Rs 25 lakh to her in-laws' family on demand as dowry.

Last month, Monalisa's in-laws went to her parental house to bring her back, but she turned them back.

When the attempt to bring back his wife failed, Tusharkant threatened her with dire consequence if she did not return with Rs 5 lakh as dowry. This made Monalisa file a complaint with Kuakhia police on Wednesday night.

It is the second dowry incident in the district in just 24 hours. A 26-year-old woman was set ablaze allegedly by her in-laws for dowry in Chahata village on Tuesday. The victim, identified as Suchismita Nayak, died of burns.