“My Husband Hit Me And Bit Me”

By Ranee Mohamed

I am pleading to the authorities and the public to help me and my children to live,” said battered wife and mother  of two K.V. Dona Shironi Renuka (37) of Koralawella.
“I cannot endure this life anymore. There are over seven complaints at the Moratuwa Police station, but my husband we were never called for an inquiry. Each time I go there, the policemen judge me. This is because he has influence with the police,” alleged Shironi Renuka who went on to say that she has confidence in the new ASP of Moratuwa who had spoken to her and assured her of some action.
“He does not live with us anymore, but he has a key to the house, because the house belongs to him. Each night he would come and beat me and terrorise the children. On two occasions he came along with two other drunk men – one day they tried to rape my daughter and on another day, they tried to rape me,” allege Shironi.
My daughter is eighteen years old and I have a teenage son too. I have no way of sending my daughter to school anymore so she  is at home unable to complete her education or follow a course. This is because I am unemployed. We have no money to eat, no money to pay our bills,” said Shironi.
Shironi went on to say that there is darkness all around her these  days because the electricity to their house has been disconnected.“I married my husband when I was a teenager. I was pregnant in two months. There was a brief period of concern  and happiness and thereafter the abuse began. The reason for the abuse was suspicion. He used to tell me that I am going out with other people. The latest is that I am having an affair with a man in a saloon. I used to go to this saloon for personal care, but now I cannot go there anymore anyway,” said a distressed Shironi. Stating that she can neither stand nor sit for long hours due to the  constant beating that she has to endure, Shironi went on to show her forearm, a portion of which had been allegedly bitten by her husband when he was under the influence of liquor
“The  beatings took place often.  One day when I collapsed after such a beating my children had watched in fear as he physically walked over my body,” said Shironi. “I have been beaten with assorted  items as cricket wickets, after  which I was admitted to the Lunawa Hospital,” alleged Shironi who went on to say that they live on charity and help from the church.
“I wish my life would change. I would not speak out about my story  if it was untrue. He wants us to leave the house. I have no place to go,” said Shironi Renuka who went on to say that she tries to look her best on the outside because she feels only anguish and fear inside.
raneemoham@hotmail.com

“I hit her but I did not bite her,” said the husband

Shironi’s  husband when contacted by The Sunday Leader said that he has beaten his wife because he suspected that she was unfaithful to him. Citing instances where suspicions arose, he said that he had hit her but cannot remember biting her. Going on to deny that he brought men home to ‘rape’ his wife, he said that only she brought a man home.
“I have tolerated a lot. But she is having an affair with the barber,” he alleged.