Kundapur: Dowry harassment - girl commits suicide, family allege murder

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (VM)

Kundapur, Feb 15: In a tragic incident that took place earlier this week, a young woman reportedly committed suicide following alleged dowry harassment by her husband and his family.

The deceased has been identified as Jyothi, sister of Prakash (33), daughter of Srinivas from Uppur in Udupi taluk. On April 10, 2009, she got married to Raghavendra Nayak, son of Ganapayya Nayak of Kodi here, at Mother Palace, Brahmavar.

As per the complaint lodged in Kundapur police station, Raghavendra Nayak had demanded Rs 1,50,000 as dowry along with 13 sovereigns at the time of engagement, all of which he received. Raghavendra again asked an additional dowry of Rs 90,000 which was also given by Jyothi’s family.

Later Raghavendra’s parents allegedly tortured Jyothi to get more money from her paternal house. Unable to bear the torture, Jyothi committed suicide by hanging herself.

A case has been registered under section 44/2013 column 304(b) of IPC and as per sections 3, 4, 6 of Dowry Prohibition Act by Prakash at Kundapur police station.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Jyothi’s mother said that her daughter was tortured frequently for dowry. "We were not able to meet her husband's demands as we had already taken a huge amount of loan for the wedding. Even then, I sold my gold ornaments and given him Rs 90,000 the second time. My daughter has not committed suicide - I am sure that her husband has murdered her," she alleged.

Jyothi's brother Prakash said that they had paid Rs 1,50,000 along with 13 sovereigns of gold after engagement. "When there were three days left for the wedding, Raghavendra again asked us to provide a bracelet and a ring. We were helpless as there were only three days left for the wedding, and thus we even agreed to his demand," he said.

After the wedding, they were happy for about 10 months and then Raghavendra again demanded more money. "Raghavendra in a drunken stupor used to beat my sister. Hence we again paid him Rs 90,000. Even after that, the demand for money continued from her husband’s family," said Prakash.

"On February 10 we got a news from Jyothl’s husband's family that she had committed suicide. We rushed to the Manipal hospital to check. My sister is a brave girl and she could not have committed suicide. This is definitely a murder done by her husband for dowry," alleged Prakash.

"Raghavendra and his family were absent for Jyothi’s final rites which showed that they are the culprits," he pointed out, demanding that police arrest them soon and take strict action so that Jyothi's family gets justice.

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