A 25-year-old woman died after falling from a building in Delhi's Lodhi Colony on Monday, less than three months after her marriage. Her family has alleged that she was murdered.
Incident details
The victim, identified as Priya Singh, was found dead on the ground floor of a residential building around 10:30 pm. She had sustained severe head injuries. Police have registered a case of unnatural death and are investigating the circumstances.
According to police officials, no suicide note was found at the scene. The woman's husband, who was present in the apartment at the time of the incident, has been taken in for questioning.
Family's allegations
Priya's father, Ramesh Singh, alleged that she was killed by her in-laws over dowry demands. He stated, "My daughter was married only three months ago. She was constantly harassed for dowry. We suspect she was pushed from the building." The family has demanded a thorough investigation and an autopsy.
Police said they are examining CCTV footage and recording statements of neighbors. A senior police officer said, "We are treating this as a suspicious death. All angles, including dowry harassment, are being looked into."
Growing concern
The case comes amid rising public concern over the deaths of young married women under suspicious circumstances. According to National Crime Records Bureau data, over 7,000 dowry deaths were reported in India in 2022. Activists say many such deaths are disguised as accidents or suicides.
Neighbors reported hearing a loud thud around the time of the incident. One resident, who did not wish to be named, said, "We heard arguments from their apartment earlier in the evening. Then there was a loud noise. We later learned that the woman had fallen."
Investigation underway
Police have sent the body for post-mortem and are awaiting the report. The woman's husband has been detained for further questioning. No arrests have been made so far. The case has been transferred to the crime branch for a detailed probe.
