Kerala Woman Dies After Opening Up About Abuse By Husband: Timeline Of The Case

Kerala Dowry Harassment case: The 24-year-old woman, Vismaya V Nair, opened up to her cousin about her partner's abusive behaviour few days before her death on June 21 in Sasthamnada near Sasthamkotta in Kollam district.

Trigger warning: The contents of this article are about physical abuse, harassment

Vismaya V Nair died two days after she opened up about domestic violence by her husband to her cousin concerning dowry. Here is the timeline of the case which has been registered under section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Kerala Dowry Harassment case: Timeline of Events

• After her death on Monday, her husband S Kiran Kumar went to the Sooranad police station and surrendered himself. This development took place after a complaint filed by Vismaya's family against Kumar, according to reports. He is currently being questioned in relation to the case.
• According to a report by the News Minute, Nair opened up about dowry related blackmailing by the family of the accused and physical abuse by him around June 19.
• According to the reported WhatsApp messages Nair sent to her cousin prior to her death, her husband, identified as Kiran Kumar, had brutally assaulted her multiple times over the dowry of a car.
• Nair explained to her cousin that Kumar had pulled her hair back and stamped on her face over the demand of a car, adding that she has not told anyone about the assault, so far.
• Nair, a final year Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery student, was found dead at her in-law's house on June 21 in Sasthamnada near Sasthamkotta in Kollam district.
• Nair's family registered a complaint against Kumar, pressing murder charges on him. Kerala Women's Commission has taken a case suo motto on Vismaya's death.
• Nair's father said to the police that they had already spent a fortune on dowry and that Kumar's family wanted more in cash since the wedding on 2020.
• He added that he was already aware about the abuse and reported it to a patrol police once, following which Kumar was taken to a police station. However, both the families agreed on a compromise and let Kumar go.
• Women’s Commission member Shahida Kamal said, "We registered the case as soon as we got information that it was dowry harassment. After that the victim's brother contacted me and sent me the images and WhatsApp conversations of the woman, concerning the harassment she faced."
• She added that since the marriage is less than 10 years, it will be a case of dowry harassment even if her death is by suicide.
• Furher investigations are underway while Nair's body has been sent to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College for autopsy.