Thiruvananthapuram: A day after a mother and her teenage daughter committed suicide, the case took a new turn when the police arrested four members of their family, including the husband and the mother-in-law, yesterday for mental torture and dowry harassment.
On Tuesday the family had accused the Canara Bank in Neyyatinkara had pressurised the family over loan default and the mother and her 19-year-old daughter fearing attachment of their home and property had set themselves ablaze. But the bank denied the charges against it. Canara Bank issued a statement saying they had not threatened or put any pressure on the family. An advocate commission, appointed by a local court, had visited Chandran’s home on 10 May to attach their house and property and were informed by the family that the loan dues of Rs 6.80 lakh would be repaid on 14 May.
However, during investigation, police officials found a three-page letter written and signed by the mother-daughter duo and it was found pasted on the wall of their room. In the letter the mother had alleged that the four family members had constantly mentally harassed her for dowry and even perform black magic. The mother-in-law had even poisoned her once.
The letter also stated that the husband Chandran never took any steps to prevent attachment of the house and property. He had returned from the Gulf a few months back and wanted to get married again. The letter, however, did not make any mention of the pressure put by the bank authorities.
The police arrested the four and registered a case for abetment to suicide against them. The suicide note has been sent for forensic tests and there was no evidence against the bank as of now.
Meanwhile, Youth Congress activists staged a demonstration in front of Canara Bank’s office near Palayam here yesterday morning and raised slogans against the bank. They later dispersed after television channels flashed reports about the contents of the suicide note.