Warangal woman dies in London; kin cry foul

Warangal Urban: The death of a native of Hanamkonda, Thirumalagiri Swathi, in London has triggered protests here by her parents and family members. The parents and family members of the woman aged around 20 years have alleged that she was killed by her husband and in-laws. It was said on November 4, 2016 Swathi married Sripathi Rajesh of Hanamkonda when he was working in Singapore.

Later they shifted to London along with Rajesh’s parents and his sister as he got employment there with a better pay package. Following which he started harassing his wife for more dowry, complained Swathi’s parents Swaminathan and Bharati, who live at Ekasila Park in Hanamkonda. The parents and relatives have accused her husband Rajesh, and in-laws Srinivas and Vijaya of demanding additional dowry ever since their marriage was fixed. According to them at the time of marriage, Rs 35 lakh was given as dowry.

But after going to London additional dowry was demanded as Rajesh got a better pay package. Swathi was said to have subjected to mental and physical harassment by her husband and in-laws daily. During her last conversation on Oct 2 with her parents she was said to have expressed her desire to come back to India as she was unable to bear the torture. On Wednesday Swathi’s parents were informed that she fell into the sea and was admitted to a hospital and later in the night they were told that she had died.

On Thursday, the family members of Swathi went to Rajesh’s parent’s locked residence at Machilibazar in Hanamkonda and staged a protest. In a fit of anger, they damaged door mesh at the residence. Swathi’s parents and relatives appealed the state and central governments to help them bring her body to Warangal at the earliest. They sent messages on twitter to Union Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and IT Minister K T Rama Rao.

They also wanted action to be taken against Rajesh and his parents.