KOHAT, Nov 28: An Afghan cleric subjected his wife to severe torture at the refugee camp here on the suspicion of her illicit relations with some people, police said. They said that the man locked his wife in a room of the house at the refugee camp for five months.

According to police, the case came to light when uncle of the victim, Zartola, came from Afghanistan to meet his niece in the camp. He saw that she had been locked inside a room and had not seen light for the last five months. She narrated her story to her uncle about how her husband used to beat and torture her.

The uncle took Zartola to Bilitang police station where she registered FIR against her husband Mullah Abdul Salam. Mr Salam was arrested soon after registration of the case.

Deputy superintendent of police Ehsanullah told Dawn that the accused had been booked under the relevant laws for torturing women.

The victim was married to the cleric three years ago and her parents were living in Kabul. She claimed that from the very first month of their marriage her husband was suspiclous of her relations and used to beat her with cane, pulled her hair and harassed her, but she remained silent.

She said that her husband had locked her in a room from August last.

After five months, her uncle arrived and took her to the KDA divisional headquarters hospital where she had to undergo surgery by a gynaecologist. Later, he took the woman to the police station where she registered FIR against her husband.

The accused was produced before judicial magistrate who sent him to prison. The victim and her uncle were now living in a house of their relatives in the refugee camp.