OYOOR: Pooyappally police have arrested a man and his mother for starving his wife to death for not paying money demanded as dowry. Oyoor Chenkulam native Chandulal (30) and his mother Geethalal (55) were arrested on Saturday. Thushara, the daughter of Karunagapally natives Thulaseedharan and Vijayalakshmi, died on March 21.

Chandulal has been charged with offences such as dowry harassment, mental and physical torture, and leaving a person to starve, resulting in death.

Both have been remanded by Kottarakkara court. Thushara’s body were found emancipated due to lack of food intake. Chandulal reportedly told the police that his wife was given only sugared water and rice soaked with water.

The couple have two children Chancy (4) and Chinsy (1.5 yrs).

Chandulal and his mother took Thushara to Kollam district hospital on March 21 around midnight but she was declared brought dead. The hospital had referred the case to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College after felt something fishy. In the post-mortem conducted in the Medical College, it was found that the woman had died of pneumonia after starving for days.

There were marks of assaults on her body. The police carried out the arrest based on the post-mortem report. Earlier, though Chandulal was taken into custody and questioned after Kollam district hospital doctors expressed doubts about the death, he was later let off.

According to the police, their wedding was in 2013. After three months, Chandulal demanded Rs 2 lakh as dowry but Thushara’s family could not give that amount. Since then she had been constantly subjected to mental and physical torture. After marriage, Thushara was allowed to contact his relatives only two times. If her relatives went to meet her, she was beaten after they were forced to return.

Chandulal’s mother also indulged in black magic. She had built a temple like structure in front of the house and covered the whole house compound with tin sheets. Locals said they used to hear loud cries from the house often. Police are planning to seek the custody of the duo for further questioning.