Woman, 5-year-old child ousted from husband’s home over dowry in Kerala’s Kollam

A woman and her five-year-old child were allegedly ousted from her husband's house at Thazhuthala near Kerala’s Kollam over dowry harassment. The woman, Athulya, and her son had to spend a whole night outside the house. Athulya cited dowry harassment as the reason behind the incident.

Athulya left home on Thursday night to pick up her son from school. Five minutes later, when they returned, both the gates of the house were locked. Athulya later informed the police about the incident. She said the police didn't respond properly.

“When I couldn't enter the house, I informed the police station about it. I even directly called up the police commissioner. I also informed the women's police cell and the child welfare wing. However, none responded properly. Later, people from the station came and asked me not to sit there and come with them. I denied it,” said Athulya.

Athulya claimed that she had been going through torture from the time she got married. “I was constantly told that the dowry was less and they needed a brand new car. My husband had insulted my father for dowry. We had filed a case with police regarding that incident,” she added.

Meanwhile, Athulya’s husband’s brother’s wife, Vimi, also came out with similar allegations.

Child rights commission chairperson, Manoj Kumar, Women’s commission member, Shahida Kamal and Chathannur Assistant Commissioner of Police, reached the location and intervened to resolve the matter.

The issue has now been resolved with both the mother-in-law and Athulya agreeing to stay in two different houses.

Athulya, however, said that her mother-in-law could create problems again. “This could be temporary as this is the second time my mother-in-law has created such a scenario,” she said.