Vismaya Dowry Case: Husband Arrested on Dowry Charges
In Kerala’s Vismaya’s dowry case, one day after Vimaya’s suicide, her husband Kiran Kumar has been arrested.
Dowry is an ancient custom all around the world wherein gifts, property or money is given upon the marriage of a daughter. The dowry system in India refers to the furniture, cash, and movable property that the bride's family gives to the groom, his parents and his relatives as a condition of the marriage. In some cases, the dowry system leads to crime against women, ranging from emotional abuse and injury to even deaths. The payment of dowry has long been prohibited under the Dowry Prohibition Act. However it is still very much prevalent in the country and annually thousands of girls die or are killed for the demand of dowry.
Vismaya Nair from Kerala recently died by suicide as her husband was torturing her for dowry. Vismaya Nair married Kiran Kumar last year in May. Vismaya’s father had gifted a car costing 11 lakhs, 1.25 acre of land and 100 sovereigns each weighing 8 gm of gold to Kiran as dowry at the time of marriage. But, Kiran had been allegedly harassing his wife, and was unhappy with the gifts. Reportedly, Kiran had once hit Nair in front of her parents. He was then taken to the police station, however, cops insisted that both sides should reach a "compromise." Just two days before her death on 21st June, Vismaya had sent messages to her cousins, talking about the alleged torture she suffered at the hands of her husband. She also shared with them pictures showing injuries on her face, shoulder, and hands. Sajitha V, Vismaya’s mother, admitted her daughter had told her several times about the alleged abuse. “I told her to come back, but she said what people say, she will somehow endure it.” Vismaya was found unconscious at her in-laws' house on 21st June, after which she was rushed to a hospital but declared dead by the doctors. Kumar was arrested in connection with this case on 22nd June and was suspended from the state transport department where he was working. The Kerala Women's Commission was outraged and sought a report from the police.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident on 22nd June at Venganoor in Thiruvananthapuram, 24-year-old Archana, who got married a year ago, allegedly immolated herself. The police have arrested her husband Suresh, who tried to escape from their rented house. Archana’s parents alleged that Suresh used to quarrel with his wife and had demanded money from her family.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters that the recent alleged dowry deaths were shocking. “All district SPs have been given direction to give priority to complaints from women” he said.
