Attack on bride; fight over message on phone, not dowry harassment, says Rahul’s mother

KOZHIKODE: Usha, mother of Rahul, the accused in the domestic violence case in Pantheerankavu, partially rejected the newlywed's complaint of her husband’s attack. Usha, while talking to the media said that her son Rahul beat her but it was not for dowry. She clarified that a verbal dispute broke over a message the woman received on her phone.

‘There was a heated argument between the two. The fight was not over dowry. The girl did not cooperate with the other members of the family after reaching home. She used to come down only to have food. As I cannot climb the stairs, I usually don’t go upstairs. I didn't know about the attack. Rahul was at home till 3 pm yesterday,’ said Usha.

Meantime, the police have started a search for Rahul, who is absconding. The police have registered a case against him on charges for murder attempt and dowry harassment. The couple got married in Guruvayur on May 5. She was attacked on May 11. Rahul is from Kottayam. It has been only four or five years since he started living in Kozhikode.

Her family had lodged a complaint with the chief minister, women's commission, and Ernakulam rural district police chief demanding to register a murder attempt case against Rahul. Her father had earlier said that the police were reluctant to register a case in the beginning.