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A 29-year-old woman from Kerala's Kollam was found dead in her apartment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Her family has alleged that she was harassed by her husband over dowry, following which the Kollam Police have filed a case of murder under the Dowry Prohibition Act against the man. 

The victim, Athulya Sekhar, got married to Satheesh, also a native of Kollam, in 2014. Her body was found in her flat in Sharjah on the morning of July 19. According to the woman's family Athulya died after Satheesh allegedly choked her, kicked her in the stomach, and hit her head with a plate between July 18 and July 19, NDTV reported.

They have alleged that she was being physically and mentally harassed over dowry since she was married. The family reportedly gave Satheesh over 40 sovereigns of gold ornaments and a bike at the time of their wedding, but he stated that it was insufficient.

Police have registered a case against the husband of the woman under Sections 85, 115(2),118(1),103(1) and under Section 4 and 3 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, News 18 reported.

'Her Death Is Mysterious'

In a statement, the victim's father, Rajasekharan, called her death “mysterious," stating that he did not believe his daughter died by suicide. “I don’t believe that my daughter will die by suicide. She shares a very intimate relationship with her daughter. Her death is mysterious," the woman’s father said.

“She was bearing all the torture that she was subjected to on a daily basis. She suffered it all for her daughter. Earlier also, such issues had happened. A case was also filed with the police. We want to know what exactly happened," he added.

Athulya's father claimed that her husband is an alcoholic and "gets violent always." "We have to find out what exactly happened to her." 

In another similar case, a 32-year-old Kerala woman was found dead with her toddler in Sharjah earlier this month. Following this the police filed a case against her husband and in-laws.

Vipanchika Maniyan, also a native of Kollam district, allegedly died by suicide at her apartment on July 8. Her one-year-old daughter was also found dead.

A handwritten note in Malayalam was also found in the house. In the note the woman is  believed to have mentioned emotional distress and allegations of abuse. She reportedly claimed that her husband and in-laws had been harassing her mentally and physically over dowry demands.