Unable to bear alleged harassment for dowry, two women set themselves ablaze in separate incidents at Tavarekere and Nandagudi on the outskirts of the city on Monday.
Twenty-six-year-old newly-wed Savitha alias Vedha, daughter of Gangaiah, ended her life at Tunga Nagar in Tavarekere. A native of Kanakapura, she got married to M S Raju, a private company employee, just eight months ago.
Savitha was allegedly being harassed by Raju’s family for dowry and they had sent her back to her parental home to bring money. Recently, the couple’s families fought over the issue and Savitha was asked to live at her cousin Shobha’s house for a while, police said. Savitha set herself on fire around 7.30 pm when Shobha had gone to a village festival. Shobha found her body and informed her uncle who then alerted the police.
Savitha left behind a suicide note which stated that her husband Raju and her in-laws harassed her for dowry and this led to her suicide. Tavarekere police have arrested Raju’s family.
In another incident, a 26-year-old woman committed suicide at her house in Bislahalli in Nandagudi near Hoskote.
The deceased Mamatha, a native of Sidlaghatta, married Ramachandra, a farmer, two years ago.
Police said Mamatha set herself ablaze around midnight. On hearing her screams, neighbours rushed to the spot and took her to a nearby hospital where she succumbed. Police found no suicide note.
However, Mamatha’s parents had filed a case of murder against Ramachandra and his family, who were allegedly harassing her for dowry and had assaulted her a couple of times.
Nandagudi police are on the lookout for Ramachandra and his family who are absconding.