A tragic incident unfolded in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, as a 26-year-old doctor took her own life after her boyfriend declined to marry her due to her family’s inability to meet their exorbitant dowry demands. The deceased, identified as Shahana, was a postgraduate student in the surgery department of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. Her lifeless body was discovered at her apartment on the morning of December 5.

Upon investigation, Shahana’s relatives revealed that she resorted to suicide when her boyfriend terminated their relationship because her family could not fulfil the exorbitant dowry demands set by his family. The Medical College police have registered a case of unnatural death and initiated a thorough investigation into the matter. They have already recorded statements from the deceased doctor’s family members.

According to a news agency PTI report, a suicide note was discovered at the scene, where Shahana expressed her frustration with the prevailing obsession for money. This note seems to indicate that the excessive dowry demanded by her boyfriend’s family played a significant role in her decision to end her life.

Shahana’s boyfriend’s family allegedly insisted on an exorbitant dowry, which included demands for gold, land, and even a luxury BMW car. Regrettably, when Shahana’s family failed to meet these unjust and illegal demands, her boyfriend, who also holds a position in the Medical PG Doctors Association, decided to sever ties and cancel their wedding plans.

Adding to the tragedy, Shahana’s father, who used to work in the Middle East, recently passed away.

In response to this heart-wrenching incident, the Kerala Health Minister, Veena George, has directed the Women and Child Development Department to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and submit a detailed report. Additionally, the Chairperson of the Kerala Women’s Commission, P Sathidevi, visited Shahana’s grieving mother to express her condolences. Sathidevi emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation into the incident and stated that the women’s commission would seek a report on the police’s actions in response to the case.

Sathidevi further asserted that if the accused doctor’s family is found guilty of demanding dowry from Shahana, a case should be filed against them under the Prevention of Dowry Act. Taking note of media reports, the state Minority Commission has also registered a case regarding the incident.

In light of the allegations against him, the Medical PG Doctors Association has relieved Shahana’s boyfriend of all his responsibilities within the organization.