The death of a 26-year-old doctor by suicide in India’s Kerala state has brought attention to the alleged role of dowry demands in her tragic end.
Shahana, a postgraduate student at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, was found dead in her rented apartment on December 5, reportedly following her boyfriend's decision to call off their wedding due to her family's inability to meet dowry demands, India Today reported.
Shahana's family claimed that her boyfriend, also a doctor and a representative of the Medical PG Doctors Association, demanded a significant dowry, including gold, land, and a BMW car.
Unable to fulfil these demands, Shahana's family alleged that her boyfriend ended their relationship, leading to the distress that may have contributed to her suicide.
The accused boyfriend, identified as Dr Ruwise, has been arrested by the Medical College Police, who registered a case of unnatural death, on Wednesday night.
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In response to the incident, Kerala Health Minister Veena George has ordered the Women and Child Development department to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report.
Kerala Women's Commission Chairperson, Sathidevi, visited Shahana's mother, calling for an investigation and stating that the commission would seek a report on the police's actions in the matter.
She stated that if it is established that the accused doctor's family demanded dowry from the victim, legal action would be taken under the Prevention of Dowry Act.
The state Minority Commission has also taken note of the incident, initiating a case based on media reports.
Confronted with the charges, the Medical PG Doctors Association has relieved the accused doctor of all responsibilities within their organisation.
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