Bengaluru: Two newlywed women die by suicide in separate cases on Sunday night
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Two newly married women allegedly died by suicide in separate incidents in and around Bengaluru late on Sunday night, with police registering cases and launching investigations into both deaths. The incidents have drawn attention to the vulnerabilities faced by women in early marriages, particularly those conducted without family consent.
First Case: Tanuja, 23, Found Near Nelamangala
Tanuja, a 23-year-old resident of Beerammanahalli in Gauribidanur, allegedly died after consuming poison on a roadside near Basavanahalli, Nelamangala, according to police. She had reportedly entered into a secret marriage with Ravindra, a resident of Mayasandra in Yelahanka, Bengaluru, at the Dharmasthala temple a few months ago — a marriage conducted without Ravindra's family's knowledge.
After the wedding, Ravindra had arranged for Tanuja to stay in a paying guest accommodation before shifting her to a rented house in Singapore Layout, Yelahanka. He had reportedly assured her he would inform his family about the marriage in due course.
On Sunday night, Tanuja called Ravindra and asked him to come home. He allegedly told her he could not visit immediately and would come the following morning. Upset by his response, she reportedly switched off her mobile phone. At around 10 pm, she allegedly sent him a message stating she had consumed poison and disclosed her location as Basavanahalli, Nelamangala.
Ravindra rushed to the spot and found her, and shifted her to a nearby hospital. She succumbed before she could be admitted for treatment, police said. Investigators suspect an argument between the couple may have preceded the incident, though the exact circumstances are yet to be established. A case has been registered at the Nelamangala Town Police Station, and investigation is underway.
Second Case: Shwetha, 25, Leaves Death Note Blaming Husband and In-Laws
Shwetha, a 25-year-old schoolteacher originally from Chikkamagaluru, allegedly died by suicide at her residence in Sunkadakatte, under the jurisdiction of the Kamakshipalya police station, at around 11 pm on Sunday. She had entered into a love marriage approximately four months ago and was working as a teacher at a private school in Bengaluru.
Police recovered a handwritten death note from the scene. In the note, Shwetha allegedly wrote: 'If I die, please don't spare them, mother.' She held her husband and his sister responsible for her death, accusing them of persistent harassment and torture that she said had pushed her to take the extreme step.
According to police, Shwetha allegedly died by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in her house. A case has been registered, and the death note is being examined as part of the investigation.
Broader Context
The two deaths occurring on the same night in Bengaluru underline a troubling pattern of marital discord leading to fatal outcomes for young women. Both cases involve women who had married recently — one in a secret ceremony, the other in a love marriage — and both reportedly faced difficulties in their new domestic environments. Notably, in Shwetha's case, the death note constitutes a direct allegation against named individuals, which investigators will be required to examine under relevant provisions of law.
Police in both jurisdictions have confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as inquiries progress.