Kerala woman dies in UAE, husband booked for murder over dowry harassment
PTC Web Desk: In a shocking case of suspected dowry-related domestic violence, the Kerala Police have registered a murder case against a man after his 29-year-old wife, Athulya, was found dead in their apartment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday morning.
The complaint, filed by Athulya’s mother, accuses her husband, Satheesh, of brutally assaulting her between July 18 and 19, allegedly strangling her, kicking her in the stomach, and striking her head with a plate, which reportedly led to her death. The family claims that Athulya endured years of mental and physical abuse since their marriage in 2014 over dowry demands, despite having given a motorcycle and 43 sovereigns of gold.
The Kerala Police have booked Satheesh under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. Athulya, a native of Kollam, leaves behind a young daughter. Her grieving father, Rajashekharan Pillai, alleged that Satheesh was an alcoholic who regularly turned violent. “Even when she was physically attacked in the past, she chose to stay because of his repeated apologies. We had filed a police complaint earlier too,” he said.
Disturbing videos released by the family reportedly show Athulya with visible bruises and Satheesh appearing to lift a plastic stool in a threatening manner. While Satheesh, speaking to the media from the UAE, denied the allegations and claimed he did not believe she would die by suicide, the family remains firm in their suspicion of foul play. “She adored her daughter and had no reason to end her life. Her death is deeply suspicious, and we demand justice,” her father added.
This tragic case comes close on the heels of another dowry-related death in Sharjah, where 32-year-old Vipanjika Mani and her infant daughter were found dead under suspicious circumstances. Her family alleged that she too was subjected to brutal abuse over dowry, including having her hair cut to humiliate her.
- With inputs from agencies
