Kerala Woman Found Dead Days After Alleging Dowry Harassment: 10 Things To Know

Kerala woman dowry death case: A young woman from Kerala, who was a final year student of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, had sent WhatsApp messages to a cousin with images of injuries all over her body. Two days later, the 24-year-old woman was found dead at the house of her husband's family in the Kollam district.

*Trigger warning: This article contains details of physical abuse, harassment.

Here are ten things to know about the horrific Kerala woman dowry death case:

• On Monday night, the same day of Vismaya's death, her husband S Kiran Kumar surrendered at Sooranand police station, according to reports. The deceased woman's family filed a complaint against Kumar, acting on the same the police registered a case against him. According to the police statement, Kiran Kumar is being interrogated regarding the case.
• Vismaya V Nair was found dead inside her house in Sasthamnada near Sasthamkotta in Kollam district on June 21 morning. The woman's family has alleged that she was being tortured by the husband over dowry.
•  Her death came two days after she sent messages to her cousin revealing to him that her husband had beat her many times over a car that was given to him as part of her dowry. She was married to S Kiran Kumar, who is a native of Kollam district and works as an Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector at Motor Vehicles Department. They got hitched in March last year. Read more on the timeline of the case here.
•  As per reports, Vismaya's family has alleged that she was repeatedly assaulted and threatened over dowry issues ever since she got married.
• Vismaya wrote in her messages to her cousin that her husband allegedly pulled back her hair and stamped on her face. She also wrote that she hasn’t informed anyone about the severe assault yet. The images acquired from the woman’s cousin show injuries on her face, hands and shoulder.
• Reportedly, she even returned to her home once but later went to live with her husband and his parents after completing the BAMS course. Upon returning, Kiran allegedly continued to assault and insult her.
• Vismaya was found hanging inside the bathroom on June 21.
• Her family has registered a complaint with the police that it was a murder and that Vismaya was harassed for dowry. They have filed a case of unnatural death. More charges will be included based on the investigation, police said. Read more about the case here.
• Kerala Women's Commission is investigating the case. According to her father Thrivrikaman Nair, the family had given 100 sovereigns, one acre of land and a Toyota Yaris car as dowry. However, Kiran allegedly wanted cash instead of the car and insisted that Vismaya’s family sell the car.
• The WhatsApp chats between Vismaya and her cousin is also being investigated by the police. The text messages also alleged that the husband would assault her usually after coming home, would kick her in the face and when she fell down, he used to press his leg onto her face. Vismaya also said in the chats that her husband hurled abuse at her and her father, saying the vehicle he received in dowry was not good.
•  As per the request of her family, the body has been sent to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College for post mortem.

Image Credit: NDTV