A 30-year-old woman’s death in Sharjah, suspected to be suicide, is being investigated in Kerala after her family alleged that she faced harassment over dowry.
Athulya, a native of Chavara in Kerala’s Kollam district, was found dead on July 19 at the flat in Sharjah where she lived with her husband, Satheesh Sankar. Soon after her death, the family released video clippings that purportedly showed Sankar’s alleged violent behaviour.
Police in Kollam have registered an abetment of suicide case against Sankar after her family alleged in a complaint that she had faced prolonged torture, abuse and repeated demands for dowry. Sankar works as a site engineer with a construction company in Dubai.
Athulya’s father, Rajasekharan Pillai, said his daughter was planning to start a job. “Satheesh never allowed her to go for a job. Her plan was to find a job and stand on her own feet to look after her daughter. Last year, she had complained to me that she faced torture from the husband. However, she continued to stay with Satheesh after he apologised and promised not to repeat such acts,” Pillai said.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media in Sharjah, Sankar admitted that he used to beat his wife after getting drunk, but said that he did not believe it led her to suicide.
Police sources in Kollam said the FIR was registered under various charges, including abetment of suicide, causing grievous hurt, and dowry harassment.
“Once Sharjah police complete their legal formalities in the case, we will take steps to bring Sankar to Kerala. We will also obtain the postmortem report from them. The family has handed over various digital evidence to substantiate the allegation that the woman was tortured. Her mobile phone will be brought to Kerala for forensic examination,” a police officer said, adding that a special team has been constituted in Kollam to probe the case.
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The death of Athulya, the mother of a 10-year-old girl, reportedly took place on her 30th birthday and has led to outrage in Kerala. The couple’s only daughter has been staying with Athulya’s parents in Kollam.
