Thiruvananthapuram: The probe into the suicide of Dr A J Shahana, a post-graduate student of the Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, has revealed the role of her ex-fiance's father in demanding dowry.
Police booked Dr Ruwise E A under sections of the abetment to suicide and Dowry Prevention Act after recovering Shahana's suicide note. His father Abdul Rasheed is absconding.
The police probe has revealed that Ruwise's father was adamant about the hefty dowry -- 150 sovereigns of gold, 15 acres of land and a BMW car -- and exerted pressure on Shahana, which pushed her into emotional distress and forced her to take the extreme step.
However, despite the suicide note and WhatsApp chats of the post-graduate medical student revealing his involvement, it alleged that the police initially tried to hush up the case, which enabled Abdul Rasheed to escape the police net along with his family. According to reports, the Karunagappally native managed to flee in his car.
Shahana (26) was found in an unconscious state in her flat near the Medical College on Monday night. Though she was rushed to the hospital, she was declared 'brought dead'. According to Shahana's relatives, both families had agreed to her marriage with Ruwise (28), her senior. Then the groom's family demanded a huge dowry, and the marriage was called off.
Police officer slams media
Meanwhile, the Medical College Station Head Officer (SHO) P Harilal, who initially concealed Shahana's suicide note and WhatsApp chats, has now criticised the media. Taking to his social media, he slammed the media for allegedly publishing news against officers 'who refuse to cooperate with them.'
However, he does not mention why the police initially refused to lodge a case and conduct a probe despite getting clear information on the role of the accused. The cops were later forced to change the line of investigation and book Ruwise after Shahana’s mother and sister raised the dowry issue before the media.
According to the police remand report, Ruwise and his father demanded 1.5 kg of gold, acres of land and a luxury car as dowry. Ruwise was later arrested from a relative’s house in Karunagappally. He was arraigned under the sections of the Dowry Prohibition Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
