Hyderabad woman ends life in US

A married woman from Hyderabad took the extreme step of killing herself at her residence in North Carolina, United States, on October 3. She suffocated herself to death by tying a plastic bag around her face. Her family members alleged that she was forced to take her life due to harassment by her husband and in-laws.

The woman identified as G Vanitha (38) from Sai Nagar in Nagole was married to R Shiva Kumar, software professional based in the US, about 15 years ago. The couple have two children Sindhu (13) and Siddharth (8) and were staying abroad since their marriage.

Following frequent disputes between the couple, elder members from both the families had intervened and tried to work out a compromise.

Four years ago, the couple came back to Hyderabad and the two children were admitted to a school here. However, according to Vanitha’s paternal uncle G Sri Ramulu, recently the children were taken back to the US by Shiva Kumar without Vanitha’s knowledge. It was four months ago that Vanitha too decided to relocate to the



US.

On Thursday last, after her husband Shiva Kumar left for work and the children to school, Vanitha is suspected to have committed suicide by suffocating herself to death with the plastic bag, in her bedroom. “The children who returned home in the afternoon thought she was sleeping. It was only after the neighbours grew suspicious and checked, she was found dead,” Sri Ramulu said adding that she left behind a suicide note apologising to the family and that her final rites be performed in the US itself.

The Carolina police, who were investigating the case, took Shiva Kumar into custody for questioning. Vanitha’s family in Hyderabad had approached the L B Nagar police and lodged a petition alleging that she had died due to harassment by her husband.

The police said the petition was being examined and they had sought legal opinion on the case.

The family members requested the police to help them in bringing back the body to Hyderabad at the earliest after formalities.