Harassed for dowry, pregnant woman kills daughter, self

Mancherial: A 26-year-old woman strangled her five-year-old daughter first and then hanged herself in the house on Wednesday. Harassment from her husband Ramakrishna Reddy and in-laws for additional dowry and sexual harassment from her father-in-law, Mohan Reddy, were stated to be the causes for the housewife to take the extreme step.

The deceased were identified as Vijjulata Reddy and her daughter Kusita Reddy. According to Vijjulata Reddy’s father Pakala Ram Reddy, following Vijjulata’s complaints of harassment, they have made reconciliation many times in the presence of elders. But there was no let up in the harassment meted out to Vijjulata and there was no change in the behavior of her father-in-law, Mohan Reddy, the father of the deceased said.

Vijjulata left her in-laws’ place and has been living with her parents for the past three years. Eight months ago, she was sent to her in-laws’ place after working out a compromise. Around 2 pm on Wednesday, a deeply disturbed Vijjulata took the extreme step. It is pertinent to note that she is 16 weeks pregnant with her second child.