Vizhinjam police have arrested a woman in connection with the death of an 18-year-old woman at Venniyoor in Venganoor on Thursday. The accused, Rajam (54), a neighbour, has been booked on charges of abetment to suicide.

The deceased, Anusha, is the daughter of Aju and Sunitha. According to her father's complaint, repeated verbal abuse by the neighbour caused severe mental distress, which led to Anusha’s suicide.

At the time of the incident, only Anusha and her ailing grandfather, Neshmani, were at home. Police said the family had an ongoing dispute with the neighbour, and a recent altercation was triggered when Rajam's former daughter-in-law used a pathway through Anusha’s property. Rajam allegedly accused Anusha of permitting it and verbally abused her during the confrontation.

Anusha reportedly called her father in tears to inform him of the incident. Though he rushed home immediately, she had already taken the extreme step, Manorama Online reported.

She was found hanging from a ceiling fan in a room on the second floor of their two-storey house. Anusha died on the way to the hospital. She had recently secured admission to Dhanuvachapuram ITI and was waiting for classes to begin.