A 24-year-old woman died by suicide after drinking a toxic cleaning agent in front of her in-laws in Kerala’s Kasaragod district, police said on Sunday.
The incident was reported late on Saturday at Panalam in Kasaragod. The police suspect it is a case of mental harassment by the husband and mother-in-law, based on a complaint filed by the family of the deceased.
A case has been registered at Vidyanagar police station based on a complaint filed by the brother of the deceased. An inspector told HT that the woman’s husband is in custody and will be formally arrested soon.
“The woman’s family has alleged that she was regularly mentally harassed over dowry and other matters by her husband and mother-in-law. On Saturday, she was physically assaulted by the husband, and her phone was stolen when she tried to call her family,” the officer told HT.
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The officer added: “Later, the woman went to the neighbor’s house and was able to call her family, who agreed to come. After her brother and other family members arrived, a quarrel broke out between the two families. In the middle, the woman quickly went inside and drank one of the highly toxic cleaning materials. She drank the liquid in front of her brother and husband.”
The woman was taken to a nearby government hospital, where she was pronounced dead early Sunday.
According to police, the couple had been married for more than a year and had a two-month-old child.
“Based on the brother’s complaint, we have arrested the 27-year-old husband. He will be formally arrested. Based on further information, we will also question his mother-in-law,” the officer said.
The Vidyanagar police have booked the husband on charges of abetment to suicide and cruelty to a woman by her in-laws under Section 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides can be prevented. If you need support or know someone who does, please contact your nearest mental health professional.
Helplines: Al-Asra: 02227546669; Sneha Foundation India: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918, Roshni Foundation (Secunderabad) Contact Numbers: 040-66202001, 040-66202000; One Life: Contact Number: 78930 78930, Seva: Contact Number: 09441778290
