UDIYANKULANGARA: A man allegedly beat his daughter-in-law with a stick, shouting at her to leave the house as she did not pay more dowry. AL Premalatha (42), wife of Stephen of Kizhakke Puthen Veedu in Parashuvakkal, was beaten up by her father-in-law Ramachandran (68).

The incident came out through the footage captured by Premalatha's 14-year-old youngest son on his mobile phone. Along with the footage, Premalatha filed a complaint with the police. Police reached the spot and took Ramachandran into custody. In the footage, Premalatha can be seen repeatedly slapped on the face and beaten with a stick by Ramachandran. The incident happened at 11 am yesterday.

According to the complaint, Ramachandran regularly told her to leave the house as she didn't give additional dowry. Premalatha and Stephen got married in 2004. Due to dowry issues, Premalatha stayed in her own home for four and a half years. Stephen works in another district and comes home only one or two days a month. Premalatha says that her father-in-law used to beat her but her husband does not pay attention to it.

There is a court case between Stephen and Ramachandran over the house. There is also an allegation that a complaint was lodged with the Parassala police that Ramachandran had beaten Premalatha several times, but no action was taken. At the time of the incident, Ramachandran's 16-year-old elder son and wife Elsi were at home. Locals say that Ramachandran used to beat up his daughter-in-law and abuse the neighbours who objected.