In Thiruvananthapuram, a government postgraduate doctor died by suicide recently leading to the arrest of her colleague on Friday for the alleged abetment to suicide. The police investigation that led to the arrest of the colleague, who allegedly drove the victim to suicide, revealed that the accused demanded an exorbitant dowry of one and a half kilos of gold and acres of land for marriage. The details emerged after a remand report was submitted by the Medical College police shedding light on the harrowing harassment faced by the young woman doctor.
According to PTI, the police said that Dr Shahana ended her life in an apartment in Trivandrum on Tuesday due to "continuous mental harassment" and "pressure" exerted by Dr Ruwais for the exorbitant dowry which her family was unable to provide.
The police also recovered a suicide note from Shahana's residence which mentioned Dr Ruwais and his role in her extreme step.
On Tuesday, a 27-year-old student in ortho department of Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram was found unconscious in her apartment. She was later declared brought dead at the hospital.
According to the remand report, the young medico wrote in the suicide note, "It is true that my family cannot provide one and a half kilo grams of gold and acres of land if they ask for the same."
Shahana also wrote that his intention was to ruin her life by promising to marry her, and she was ending her life due to their desire for a dowry, police said, as per the report.
A local court here remanded the accused to 14 days judicial custody. Earlier, Shahana's brother Jasim Nas said that Ruwais and his family -- especially his father -- were adamant about a huge dowry.
"Ruwais finally told her that money was more important to him, which shocked Shahana," he had said.
On Kerala doctor's suicide, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said, "We need to create more awareness in the society and particularly to our girls. I feel sad that it is happening in Kerala, a state which used to be a matriarchal society where women call the shots. They inherited the property, and here our girls are becoming so vulnerable...This is not only evil but brutish behaviour that you demand money from the girl's family."