Kollam: The police team investigating the case of a young woman who was starved to death by her husband over dowry in Oyoor has slapped murder charges against the accused. Chandulal,30, of Chenkulam in Oyoor and his mother Geethalal,55, have been booked under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code(IPC) for planned murder.
If convicted, the accused will be punished with death or life imprisonment. Police had earlier charged them with IPC 304(B) for dowry death within seven years of her marriage.
Thushara, 21, daughter of Thulaseedharan and Vijayalakshmi of Karunagapally, died on March 21 after six years of married life. She was mentally and physically tortured by her husband and was starved to death over dowry. The neighbours have given statements that the woman was tortured not only by the husband and his mother, but by the in-laws and other relatives too.
Meanwhile, the family of Thushara has raised demand to hand over her children Chancy, 4, and Chinsy, 1.5, who are currently in a children's home.
Thushara's body was merely 20 kilograms when she died in her husband's house. She had been tortured after the family failed to give Rs. 2 lakhs that was demanded as dowry amount. Chandulal had confessed before the police that he used to give her sugared water and soaked rice with an intention to hide the injuries inflicted on her body.
The family was also engaged in black magic living isolated in the society. Pooyappally police will also probe whether the death has any connections with black magic. It was during an autopsy examination at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College hospital that it was found that the woman had died of pneumonia after starving for months.
NCW asks SPC to probe case
The National Commission for Women on Monday directed the Kerala Police chief to launch a probe into the death of a 27-year-old woman who was allegedly starved to death by her husband and mother-in-law for dowry.
In a letter to SPC Loknath Behara, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said she was "seriously disturbed" by the reported inhuman treatment meted to the woman, who died on March 21. "Considering the gravity of the matter, it is requested that the matter be investigated and appropriate action be taken as per relevant provision of law," the letter, released to the media here, stated.
