A tragic dowry harassment case shocked Kerala’s capital after a young woman and her mother ended their lives by consuming cyanide, despite the bride’s family having paid a substantial dowry at the time of marriage.
The deceased were Krima, aged 30, and her mother Sajitha, 54, residents of Kamaleswaram in Thiruvananthapuram. Sajitha’s husband Rajeev, a retired agricultural officer, had died suddenly three months ago, plunging the family into emotional distress.
Police said Krima was married six years ago to Unni Krishnan, who was employed abroad. At the time of marriage, the bride’s family reportedly gave 200 pounds of gold jewellery and a house as dowry. However, the groom and his family were allegedly dissatisfied and continued to demand additional dowry even after the wedding.
According to the complaint, Krima was subjected to harassment and humiliation over dowry demands. The situation worsened within weeks, and Unni Krishnan reportedly separated from her just 25 days after the wedding and returned abroad. He allegedly cut off all communication and never returned to live with her.
Sajitha and her daughter made repeated attempts to reconcile, hoping the marriage could be saved. Their hopes were shattered when Unni Krishnan returned recently to attend a relative’s funeral. Efforts by family members to bring the couple together failed, and it is alleged that he verbally abused Krima during the meeting.
After returning home in deep anguish, the mother and daughter reportedly decided to end their lives. On the day of the incident, they informed relatives through WhatsApp messages before consuming cyanide at their residence.
Police recovered a suicide note written by Sajitha, detailing the alleged harassment, the short-lived marriage, and her anguish. The bodies were sent to Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.
Based on the note and statements, police registered a case of abetment of suicide against Unni Krishnan. He was arrested at Mumbai airport while attempting to flee abroad. The incident has sparked widespread grief and outrage in Thiruvananthapuram.
