A postgraduate medical student in Kerala committed suicide after her marriage was canceled due to dowry problems. She was found dead in her apartment on December 5. Her friend, whom she was going to marry, was arrested and is under investigation for the incident.
Shahana, a 26-year-old medical student, was doing her Master of Surgery degree at the Government Medical College of Kerala. Dr. Shahana’s father was working in the Middle East and had died recently. Dr. Shahana’s marriage was fixed with Dr. Ruwise, her boyfriend, who was also a representative of the Medical PG Doctors Association.
Initially, Dr. Ruwise and Dr. Shahana’s marriage was fixed as Dr. Shahana’s family agreed to a dowry of 50 sovereigns of gold, a car, and Rs 50 lakh worth of property. Later, Dr. Ruwise's family demanded a dowry of 150 sovereigns of gold, a BMW car, and 15 acres of land from Dr. Shahana’s family. As Dr. Shahana’s family could not meet the demands, the groom’s family canceled their marriage.
On Monday, following the cancellation of her marriage, Dr. Shahana didn't attend her night duty in the ICU, prompting one of her colleagues to give her a call. As they didn’t receive any response, they went to her apartment and found her flat door locked from inside. They informed the police, and they opened the door. She was found unconscious and was taken to the hospital, where they declared her dead.
The Kerala Police arrested Dr. Ruwise under the Abetment to Suicide and Dowry Prohibition Act. He was also relieved of his role as representative of the PG Medical Association.
The Chairperson of the State Minority Commission, A. A. Rasheed, has demanded that the city police commissioner, the district collector, and the director of medical education submit a report about the incident at the upcoming court hearing on December 14.
Veena George, Kerala Health Minister, visited Dr. Shahana’s house to investigate and submit a report on this case.
Sathidevi, Kerala Women’s Commission Chairperson, also visited Dr. Shahana’s house to investigate the case. She also stated that a case would be filed against Dr. Ruwise's family because they allegedly demanded dowry from the victim’s family.
Friends and family members close to Dr. Shahana said that she was deeply depressed because her friend, Dr. Ruwise, wasn’t willing to marry her as her family could not provide the dowry they demanded.
(Inputs from various media sources)
(Rehash/Rohini Devi)