Fear of parental objection to marriage forces couple to commit suicide

Fear of parental objection to marriage forces couple to commit suicide

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Apr 18, 2012 : A couple in love committed suicide by jumping into River Shambhavi in Hejamady on Aprily 16 Monday.The deceased are Dinesh (17) and Vanitha (18), both children of government employees. It is widely believed that the couple committed suicide out of fear of parental objection to the match. Although Vanitha’s parents were aware of the affair, Vanitha was afraid that the age difference between them would be an obstacle to their marriage.

 

The two belonged to the Koraga community and were cousins. According to family sources, Vanitha’s family was trying to arrange her marriage.

The two went missing on Saturday, but were expected home soon. But their bodies were later retrieved from the river, one on the night of Monday and the other on the morning of April 17 Tuesday.

While Vanitha has 4 brothers and a sister, Dinesh was the youngest in his family.

Dinesh’s parents are employed as civic workers at Yermal GP and Dinesh himself worked at Kediyoor Hotel in Udupi. On Saturday, he made a telephonic call through his mobile phone to his parents and told them that he will be visiting a relative in Mallar. That was his last conversation with his parents.

Vanitha is the daughter of Dinesh’s maternal uncle, who is employed as a civic worker at Padubidri Gram Panchayat. She left home on Saturday telling her mother that she was going to the tailor’s.

A number of people had spotted the couple on Hejamady Kody beach during the last two days. They were last seen on Mulky Bridge on the evening of Monday. Some people say that they went close to River Shambhavi and spent a long time outside the compound of a house belonging to Harish. Reportedly, Harish heard sounds at 10:15 p.m. and came out of his house to investigate. When they saw Harish, they started running and did not stop even when Harish warned them about the river close by.

Dinesh’s body was retrieved at midnight while Vanitha’s body was washed ashore on the morning of Tuesday. A piece of paper with the words “Dinesh Weds Vanitha” was found in one of the pockets of Dinesh’s pants. Vanitha’s watch had stopped at 10:20 p.m., indicating that the couple must have jumped into the river at that time. The police found it difficult to identify the bodies initially, but the parents of the couple came along and definitely identified the bodies.

The autopsy was done at the Padubidri Primary Health Centre. A case has been registered at the Padubidri Police Station and the police are currently investigating.