Karkala: Alleged torture by in-laws in Muscat drives woman to suicide
R B Jagadish
Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (EP)
Karkala, Oct 9: A newly-married woman on Wednesday October 9 committed suicide by hanging, allegedly due to cruelty meted out by her husband and in-laws.
The deceased is identified as 23-year-old Reshma. She was the only daughter of retired Syndicate bank official B M Iqbal and Shahida.
Reshma married Asif of Hangarkatte on June 9 this year. She had gone to Muscat with her husband Asif after twenty days of their marriage. However, she came back on October 7, all by herself. She reportedly told her parents about her troubled married life on October 8 and committed suicide by hanging from a fan on October 9.
Reshma who was born into a well-to-do family had done her BA from SVT College. She had married Belvai Abdul Fasook three years ago. The disputes between them ended in their divorce. She stayed with her parents after the marriage broke.
Hangarkatte resident Asif was living with his parents Mehrunnisa and Ismail in Muscat. He married Reshma saying that his first wife Shiba had died due to cancer. With the consent of Reshma's parents, they got married on June 9 after which Asif took her to Muscat.
Asif's parents and his first wife's son Ashraf stayed with the newly-married couple in Muscat. Asif's family allegedly ill-treated Reshma and did not allow her to be with Asif, it is said. She was served food in the bathroom and was made to do all the housework, it is alleged. She was insulted and called lazy in front of Asif. As their complaints increased, Asif allegedly started beating her. It is said that she had told her parents about the torture over the phone. Reshma then came back to India on October 7, all by herself. Her parents said that she used to weep over the phone while explaining the agony she was going through in Muscat.
Reshma left behind a death note in which she blamed Asif and her in-laws for her suicide, stating that she had been treated like 'servant' by his family.
Tahsildar to investigate the case
If a woman commits suicide within seven years of marriage, the tahsildar conducts investigation. As per IPC 498, tahsildar Manikya will conduct the investigation. After obtaining statements from the brother of the deceased Hakil, father Iqbal and mother Shahida Banu, a report will be submitted to assistant sub-divisional officer Yogishwar against her husband Asif, mother-in-law and father-in-law.
A case has been registered in the local police station.