Two arrested for abetting pregnant woman’s suicide

The victim,Laxmidevi Katheria (20),was pregnant and was reportedly facing harassment from her in-laws. She hanged herself with a sari in her room when her in-laws were not at home,said Investigating Officer Inspector S F Saiyad. He said Laxmi’s father,Chote,resident of Siya village in Kamalpur district of Uttar Pradesh lodged a complaint with the Ahmedabad police stating that her in-laws and husband forced his daughter to commit suicide.

Saiyed added: “Laxmidevi came to Gujarat one and a half years ago after her marriage with Sukhdev. She wanted the family to go back to their native place in UP and settle there permanently.”

He further said: “The family is poor and survives on carpentry work. The family was trying to convince her to wait for a few years till they had enough money. She took the extreme step when none was around in the house on Sunday.”

The police have arrested the woman’s husband Sukhdev Katheria (26),and her father-in-law Omprakash Katheria. The other two accused — Geetadevi,the woman’s mother-in-law and Meera,sister-in-law are yet to be arrested.

The police have also booked Sukhdev and Omprakash for abetment of suicide under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Geetadevi and Meera are being interrogated to ascertain their role in Laxmi’s suicide.