Dowry claims more victims; woman kills child, ends life

Hyderabad: Unable to bear the harassment by her husband for dowry, a 26-year-old woman immolated herself and her eight-month-old daughter at their house in Addagudur on Wednesday. 

The mother-daughter duo died while undergoing treatment at a hospital, and the police are searching for the absconding accused.

Sriramula Uma, 26 of Chirragudur was married to one Sriramula Ashok, a labourer from Addagudur in 2013. Uma’s parents had given Rs 60,000 towards dowry during the marriage. Ashok was continuously harassing Uma for additional dowry and was being violent towards her by beating her.

Uma who was unable to bear the harassment had told her parents about the behaviour of her husband and also had complained to the Gundala police station in Nalgonda district.

On Wednesday, when Ashok went for work, Uma immolated herself and also set her daughter Princy (8-month-old) ablaze using kerosene. Listening to the loud noise, the neighbours rushed to Uma’s house only to see her and her daughter engulfed in the flames and rescued them. 

However, they could not survive. Princy died in the ambulance on her way to the Government Area Hospital in Bhongir. Uma, who was also critically injured was shifted to Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad, where she died while undergoing treatment.

Addagudur sub-inspector Mr P. Shivana Prasad said that the deceased woman’s father Siripuram Ramulu lodged a complaint alleging dowry harassment by his son-in-law Ashok and accused him of the reason behind his daughter and granddaughter’s death. 

A case of dowry death has been registered against Ashok and a hunt is on to nab him, said the SI.