Dowry, extramarital relationship and last WhatsApp message; More details into Arathy's death

VARKALA: Arathy's parents never thought that the marital issues, which started with pledging all the gold given as dowry and demanding more gold, would end in the death of their daughter.

The residents of Varkala Chemmaruthi Vadasserikonam are in grief over Arathy (26), who committed suicide at her rented house in Attukal on Saturday. When the body was brought to the family home in Vadasserikonam after the postmortem, Arathy’s parents, Baiju and Jinu, were inconsolable. The final rites were held at 7 pm in the presence of a large crowd. Her father, Baiju, who was in the Gulf, had returned home on Saturday afternoon after learning about her daughter's death. Aathira is her sister.

Baiju, an expatriate, got his daughter married off by taking a loan from a cooperative society. Relatives say that Atul introduced them as a manager in a private financial institution, but it was only after marriage that they came to know that he was an executive in the loan section. Atul rented a house in Attukal, citing the convenience to his workplace and for Arathy to easily continue with her studies.

Atul's younger brother also lived in this house. The brothers would leave the house in the morning and return by evening. Atul seldom kept in contact with neighbours. Only Arathy used to talk to them. Baby, a neighbour, recalled how Arathy was teary-eyed when she last spoke to her on Wednesday and admitted skipping lunch.

Arathy had often informed her family about her discord with Atul. However, her relatives advised her to adjust. Arathy thus decided to endure rather than complain. After getting mentally exhausted from a quarrel on the day of the incident, Arathy threatened to commit suicide and went to her room and locked it from the inside. However, her relatives allege that Atul was drinking alcohol at the sit-out of the house at that time.

Arathy then sent photos of her bruise marks to her mother via WhatsApp. Atul soon had to summon his friend and wife after Arathy didn’t open the door. Soon, the police were alerted. When the police arrived at around 7.30 pm, they kicked open the door and found the body hanging. The police received the suicide note and Arathy’s diary. The Fort police registered a case of unnatural death and started an investigation.

Arathy’s relatives alleged that Atul was in an extramarital relationship with another girl, and this aggravated the problem between them. Arathy had reached her home in Varkala ten days ago, but returned to Attukal after her family insisted.

The police took her husband, Atul, a native of Bharathannur, into custody on the complaint of relatives. The inquest found marks of torture on Arathy’s body. Atul, an employee of the loan section of a private bank, was taken into custody on charges of abetment to suicide.