Women’s rights activists criticise ongoing dowry-related crimes in Kerala, asserting that despite its progressive image, regressive patriarchal practices persist, undermining the state’s reforms and interventions aimed at promoting gender equality.
Published Oct 24, 2024 | 4:39 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 24, 2024 | 4:39 PM
Kerala college lecturer dies by suicide after alleged dowry harassment
In a tragic incident, a 25-year-old college lecturer from Kerala, identified as Shruthi, died by suicide on 22 October, reportedly due to ongoing dowry-related harassment.
Shruthi, a resident of Piravanthoor in Kollam, was married to Karthik, an employee of the electricity board from Suchindram, Tamil Nadu.
Despite her family providing a substantial dowry, including Rs.10 lakh and 50 sovereigns of gold, Karthik’s mother, Chembakavalli, allegedly found it insufficient, leading to frequent disputes.
Shruthi’s family claimed that she had confided in her mother about the mental harassment she faced, which included being coerced into giving up her gold ornaments for her sister-in-law’s use and being made to eat from unclean plates.
In a voice message, Shruthi reportedly conveyed her despair, indicating that she saw no other way out but to end her life. Her parents, upon learning of her distress, attempted to visit her in Suchindram but were informed of her death while on their way, by Karthik’s sister.
On Wednesday, Shruthi’s family lodged a formal complaint with the Suchindram police, seeking justice. Following the post-mortem, her body was handed over to her family for funeral rites.
In a related development, Chembakavalli was found poisoned in her home and is currently undergoing treatment at Nagercoil Medical College Hospital. Authorities suspect she may have attempted suicide, possibly fearing the consequences of the investigation into Shruthi’s death.
In May, a case of dowry harassment in Pantheerankavu, near Kozhikode, sparked widespread outrage. Six days after the wedding, the husband and his close relatives attacked the newlywed woman, leading to a manhunt for the primary suspect, Rahul P Gopal, who is believed to have fled to Germany.
Interpol issued a blue notice to apprehend him, and his mother and sister were arrested for their alleged involvement in the brutalities, which included tightening a leather belt around the woman’s neck.
The incident came to light, when the woman’s family visited her, and noticed bruises on her face. However, the victim at first was reluctant to share with her parents, upon continuous persistence from the family, she revealed the ordeal to her family.
The woman’s father speaking to the media said that, despite the victim’s plea for help, there was alleged laxity from the Pantheeramkavu Police in registering the case promptly.
He added, that the police were not enthusiastic to register his complaint, and mocked him.
The father further referring to dowry harassment victims who lost their lives said, “I don’t want my daughter’s fate to be like that of Vismaya and Uthara. I approached the police with that intention. But they mocked me. They told me that the Vismaya case was fabricated by the media.”
It is alleged that the police initially charged Rahul under bailable sections of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.
However, following public outcry and protests, authorities finally registered a case against the husband for attempted murder.
In December of last year, at a government medical college, a young doctor took her own life. The doctor had been planning to marry another doctor from the same institute, but the engagement was called off when her family was unable to meet his exorbitant dowry demands.
The deceased, Dr Shahana, was a student of the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram, and reportedly injected herself with an anesthesia overdose on 4 December.
Dr Shahana of Venjaramoodu in Thiruvananthapuram was to get married to her colleague, Dr EA Ruwise, According to reports, he demanded a dowry of 150 sovereigns of gold, 15 acres, and a BMW car. Dr Sahana’s family was willing to give 50 sovereigns and ₹50 lakh.
Reports said that Dr Ruwise backed off from the marriage after his fiancée’s family refused his demand. The young woman’s colleagues found her unconscious in her hostel and rushed her to the hospital where she was declared dead on arrival.
Dr Ruwise had denied the charge of hefty dowry demand.
“All people require money. Money is everything,” a note found in Dr Shahana’s room read. The statement sparked emotional outbursts on social media, with many demanding justice for the young doctor.
The police took Dr Ruwise into custody on 7 December, morning, and recorded his arrest later in the afternoon.
Vismaya V Nair, a 22-year-old student pursuing a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine, was found dead at her marital home in Kollam on June 21, 2021. Originally from Nilamel, near Kadakkal in Kollam district, her death followed messages sent to her cousin just two days earlier, in which she revealed that her husband had physically abused her multiple times over a dowry-related car.
In September 2021, Kerala police filed a 500-page chargesheet naming Kiran Kumar as the primary accused in Vismaya’s death, stating she died by suicide due to persistent dowry and mental harassment.
During the trial, the court reviewed 42 witnesses and 102 documents. The prosecution asserted Kiran demanded additional dowry and was dissatisfied with the car Vismaya’s family provided, presenting photos and audio evidence of her injuries.
Uthra, a young mother of a one-year-old, died in May, 2020 after a snake bit her while she slept. Just weeks earlier, she had been recovering from a viper bite. Her parents struggled to believe that a snake could enter their closed, air-conditioned room and bite her again.
Suspecting foul play, they reported their concerns to the Kollam District Police Chief, leading investigations toward Uthra’s husband, Sooraj, who had previously harassed her for dowry.
After intense questioning, Sooraj confessed to murdering Uthra by planting a snake in their room, purchased from a snake catcher for ₹10,000.
Uthra’s family publicly expressed their shock, asserting that they provided “everything” for Uthra and Sooraj’s wedding, including 100 sovereigns of gold and a car, all at Sooraj’s request. They also supported Sooraj’s sister’s education.
They even frequently gave him money on demand, believing he would never harm their daughter.
Women’s rights activists have criticised the persistence of dowry-related crimes in Kerala, despite its progressive image. They argue that such regressive patriarchal practices have long existed, challenging the state’s progressive reforms and interventions.
Despite mandatory anti-dowry pledges in government offices, schools, colleges, and other socio-cultural establishments, and the observance of 26 November as Dowry Prohibition Day, dowry deaths continue to be reported across Kerala.
These incidents cast a shadow over the state’s achievements, including its high literacy rate, favourable sex ratio, and gender parity.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
