T’puram: A 26-year-old woman from Vadasserikonam in Varkala was found hanging from the ceiling fan in her rented house in Attukal on Saturday. Fort police arrested her husband later following allegations that prolonged domestic abuse had driven her towards taking the extreme step.The deceased, Aarathy, daughter of B Baiju and Jinu of Vilayil House, Vadasserikonam, was living with her husband, Atul, 32, a native of Bharathannur, at a rented house in Chiramukku, Attukal. Police said she died at 7.15 pm on Friday.Police took Atul into custody and, after hours of interrogation, his arrest was recorded. He will be produced before a court on Sunday, police said.Jinu alleged that her daughter was subjected to sustained physical and mental abuse by Atul since the third month of their marriage. The couple got married one-and-a-half years ago. Jinu also raised suspicion over the circumstances surrounding her daughter’s death, alleging that Atul was present at the house when the incident occurred. She said Aarathy had gone into a room stating that she would end her life and locked the door from inside. Jinu alleged that instead of immediately intervening, Atul remained seated in the sit-out and called his friends only after a considerable delay before opening the door.Aarathy repeatedly shared photographs and videos through WhatsApp showing injuries allegedly inflicted by Atul. Jinu also alleged that Aarathy lodged a complaint against her husband over domestic abuse around five months ago and shared visual evidence of the alleged assault with her family.The family further alleged that nearly 50 sovereigns of gold given during the marriage had been pawned by Atul for purchasing a car and meeting other expenses. Despite this, he allegedly continued to harass Aarthi and demanded more money.Her relatives also alleged that they had recently come to know about Atul’s previous relationship. They said disputes between the couple intensified after Aarathy allegedly came across photographs and other evidence related to the relationship.Police said Aarathy’s suicide note and her personal diary reportedly contain detailed references to the circumstances leading to her death. Digital evidence, including WhatsApp messages, photographs and videos allegedly sent by the victim to her mother, is also being examined.“The victim’s family has alleged sustained physical and mental harassment, financial exploitation and marital disputes. All these allegations, along with the digital evidence and other materials collected, are being examined as part of the investigation,” a police source said.Inquest proceedings were conducted by the RDO in the presence of forensic experts. Family members alleged that injury marks, including fingernail scratches and swelling, were noticed on Aarthi’s body.After the post-mortem at Govt Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, the body was brought to her residence at Vadasserikonam around 5.30 pm on Saturday. The funeral was held later in the evening.Aarathy’s father, Baiju, who was working in the Gulf, returned home on Saturday after learning about his daughter’s death. Aarathy is survived by her parents and a sibling.Meanwhile, Kerala Women’s Commission registered a suo motu case in connection with the incident. KWC chairperson P Sathi Devi directed the state police chief to conduct an objective investigation and submit a report.
