Dowry harassment: Young couple dies by consuming poison in Kothagudem

The couple, Boda Sreenu and Islavath Deepika, died within a gap of three days as they consumed a cool drink laced with poison

Kothagudem: A family’s alleged greed for dowry has abruptly ended the six months married life of a couple at Venkatya thanda in Tekulapally mandal in the district.

The couple, Boda Sreenu (23) and Islavath Deepika (19), died within a gap of three days as they consumed a cool drink laced with poison. According to their family members, Sreenu of Venkatya thanda married Deepika of Regula thanda six months ago without informing their parents after they fell in love with each other.

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A few months after their marriage, Sreenu and his family members started harassing Deepika for dowry. It often led to arguments between Deepika and her husband’s family members. On April 20, Sreenu, his parents and sisters reportedly attacked Deepika.

On the same evening, Sreenu allegedly mixed rat poison as well as insecticide in a cool drink and told his wife Deepika to drink it in a bid to kill her; she drank it thinking it was a normal drink. Later, he also consumed the cool drink to end his life.

The locals who spotted Deepika and Sreenu lying unconscious rushed them to Government General Hospital in Khammam. Deepika died while undergoing treatment on April 25. Sreenu, who fought for his life for eight days, died during the wee hours on Monday.

Deepika’s family members said she was three months pregnant. Based on the complaint of her family members Tekulapally police registered a case against Sreenu, his parents and sisters. Yellandu DSP, Chandra Bhanu, is leading an investigation into the case.