Woman Tortured and Killed by In-Laws

Nellore: A young woman was brutally tortured and murdered allegedly by her husband and in-laws over dowry demands at Peddapattapupalem of Vidavalur mandal in Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district late on Wednesday evening.

According to Nellore Rural DSP Ghattamaneni Srinivasa Rao, the victim, Sugunamma, was repeatedly harassed by her husband Buchhamgari Harikrishna, his parents Naguru and Narsamma, and his sister Nagalakshmi. She was reportedly abused, both physical and verbal, for the past several months. Despite her warnings that she would report the abuse to her parents, the in-laws and her husband allegedly intensified their cruelty.

Fearing exposure, they allegedly forced her to consume a harmful blue-coloured liquid, suffocated her, stripped her and beat her to death on Wednesday. The perpetrators then tried to stage the crime scene as a suicide by pouring the same liquid near her mouth and nose to mislead the authorities.

Sugunamma, a native of Thatichetlapalem in Bogole mandal, had been married to Harikrishna four years ago. The couple had two young children — three-year-old Yashaswi and one-year-old Hemant. Despite giving around 17 sovereigns of gold and ₹1.6 lakh in cash as dowry during and after the wedding, her in-laws continued to harass her for more.

On Wednesday morning, Sugunamma was subjected to a brutal assault allegedly by her husband, in-laws and sister-in-law. Her family members allege that she was stripped and physically assaulted once again when she threatened to tell her parents about the abuse. Following her death, the accused allegedly tried to cover up the murder as a suicide. She succumbed to the severe injuries caused during the attack.

Her body was taken to two different hospitals before being handed over to the family, who raised an outcry, on Thursday.

A post-mortem was conducted at the Nellore Government General Hospital (GGH).

Scenes of anguish unfolded at the hospital as her parents and relatives mourned her death, lamenting that even after four years of marriage and two children, their daughter was tortured for dowry and ultimately killed. They allege that despite giving substantial dowry, the in-laws continued their demands and eventually took their daughter’s life.

The DSP, who has taken charge of the investigation, said the police are gathering full details and assured to take stern action against the accused.