A 35-year-old woman in Bengaluru reportedly committed suicide following a dispute at home with her mother-in-law, with police arresting her husband after the victim’s family accused the mother-in-law of dowry harassment.
The woman, identified as Shushma, was an engineer who used to work in an IT company in the city. According to reports, she was found hanged at her residence on Tuesday following a family dispute, NDTV reported.
Shushma was married to Puneeth for five years and the couple has a four-year-old son. Investigators say the household experienced frequent disagreements over minor household matters, including cooking.
According to her family, tensions escalated after a dispute between Shushma and her mother-in-law. They alleged that her mother-in-law did not allow her to cook and subjected her to harassment.
Based on a complaint filed by Shushma’s relatives, the police registered a case accusing her mother-in-law of dowry harassment. Authorities have since detained her husband while efforts are underway to locate and interview the mother-in-law.
Police said a case has been registered and further investigation into the circumstances of the death is on.
The incident highlighted the ongoing issues of domestic disputes and alleged dowry-related harassment in India.
Similar cases reported earlier
In a similar incident reported last year, a 27-year-old woman working in a software company allegedly committed suicide after facing dowry harassment from her in-laws. She was married for three years and had a young son. According to her family, the groom’s relatives continued to demand money despite receiving a substantial amount during the wedding, a PTI report said.
Another case in December last year involved a Bengaluru-based tech professional who allegedly committed suicide following alleged harassment and monetary demands from neighbours.
According to the complaint filed by the techie’s mother, her son was building a house on the land purchased in 2018 when neighbors repeatedly demanded ₹20 million for a property dispute.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the latest case as police gather evidence and statements from those involved.
