Thiruvananthapuram: A 26-year-old doctor in Thiruvananthapuram died by suicide after being upset over her boyfriend’s shocking dowry demands.
The State health minister Veena George has ordered a probe into the death of Dr Shahana alongside seeking a report from the state Women and Child Development department on dowry demand.
Dr Shahana, a postgraduate student at the surgery department of Government Medical College in the city, was in a relationship with Dr EA Ruwais and they decided to marry.
However, her boyfriend refused to marry after her family could not meet his family’s dowry demands, according to reports.
Dr Ruwais' family allegedly demanded 150 gold sovereigns, 15 acres of land and a BMW car.
Her boyfriend’s family called off the marriage after Dr Shahana's family said they were not able to meet the demand, NDTV reported citing local media.
Dr Shahana lived with her mother and two siblings and her father who had worked in the Gulf died two year ago.
The young doctor was very upset about the development and left behind a suicide note that read ‘Everyone wants money only’.
After meeting with Dr Shahana's family, the state women's commission chairperson P Sathidevi said strong steps must be taken if dowry demands led the doctor to suicide.