Dowry harassment before marriage: Woman ends life

Eturunagaram (Warangal): A 25-year-old woman, who was betrothed to her distant relative, has become the victim of dowry harassment even before her marriage and died on Saturday. The woman, called Sarampally Mamatha Reddy hailing from Chinnaboinapally of Eturnagaram mandal in the district and working as a private lecturer in Nizamabad district has consumed pesticide at her residence on Thursday.

She was rushed to civil hospital at Eturunagaram and later was shifted to MGM Hospital in Warangal. She died during early hours of Saturday after struggling for life for two days. It was said that Mamatha Reddy fallen in love with Karra Venkata Ramana Reddy of Kothaguda mandal in the district while they studied at Tirupati.

They got engaged last year during which one lakh rupees offered to bridegroom’s family by bride’s family, who agreed to pay another six lakh rupees at the time of marriage. However, Ramana Reddy’s parents demanded Rs 15 lakh in advance and threatened to cancel the marriage, otherwise.

Mamatha Reddy’s parents Srinivas Reddy and Uma appealed the bridegrooms’ family not to take any adverse step that could affect their daughter’s life. A ‘panchayat’ was held in the presence of family elders on March 30 during which Ramana Reddy pretended to commit suicide by consuming some anesthetic material and he was treated immediately and was safe.

The next day Mamatha Reddy upset over the developments consumed pesticide in a bid to end her life. The issue was also taken to the notice of Eturunagaram police who on March 29 summoned both the families to the station and counselled to resolve the issue amicably and not to break the engagement, but in vain.

Eturnagaram Circle Inspector E Kishore and staff visited MGMH performed Panchanama and registered case against Ramana Reddy and his parents under IPC sections 420, 306 and 417. The accused were now absconding.