Husband, mother-in-law, 2 others arrested for 'mental torture'

In a new update in the case relating to the suicide of a mother and her teenaged daughterat nearby Neyyatinkara in Thiruvananthapuram four family members including the motherinlaw and husband were arrested on Wednesday for alleged mental torture over dowryThe family had alleged on Tuesday that the woman and her daughter had committed suicide fearing attachment of their property and home non payment of loan arrears They had taken Rs 5 lakh home loan in 2005 from Canara Banks Neyyatinkara branch and had repaid around Rs 8 lakh so farSome more amount was outstanding and the bank had denied pressurising the family forcing the two women to commit suicide Chandran had said on Tuesday that his wife Lekha 43 and 19yearold daughter Vaishnavi and had committed suicide due to continuous pressure from the bank officials over nonpayment of loan duesHowever the case took a different turn after police and forensic officials found a threepage letter written by the motherdaughter duo pasted on the wall of the room in which they committed suicide pointing to family problems B Ashok the Thiruvananthapuram Rural Superintendent of Police statedthat four family members Krishnamma 80 motherinlaw Chandran and her aunty Shanta and husband Kashi were taken into custody this morning The four were arrested and a case for abetment to suicide was filed against them he saidPolice said the suicide note which has the signatures of the two women has been sent for forensic tests There was no evidence against the bank as of now We have not seen the bank documents the official stated Ashok said Lekha stated in her suicide note that she was constantly mentally harassed for dowry by the four accused especially her motherinlaw They used to perform black magic and Chandran never took any steps to prevent attachment of the house and property the note statedChandran who had returned from the Gulf a few months back wanted to get married again the letter stated The deceased alleged that Krishnamma had tried to poison her and took her to a black magician instead of a doctor Ashokan said the letter clearly stated that the duo committed suicide due to family problems It did not make any mention of the pressure put by the bank authorities We got the letter this morning and it is being scientifically verified he said Meanwhile Youth Congress activists staged a demonstration in front of Canara Banks office near Palayam this morning and raised slogans against the bank They later dispersed after television channels flashed reports about the contents of the suicide noteTop News Stories Of The DayMumbai police probe Aditya Pancholi for assault and exploitationSion Hospital rape He threatened to strangle me to death says victimVideo of sickle brandishing dada lands him in jail in WakadMumbai Toy gun breaks off as caretaker tries to rob Malad businessmenFive years on Mumbai University continues to use old shabby libraryMumbai recalls fine gentleman Nazir Hoosein behind Liberty CinemaCarrom player accident Dombivli residents want working traffic lights dedicated copsForced to leave Mumbai Pandey now struggles as a teaseller in KashiNew BMC chief Pravin Pardeshi brings engineers back from leaveMumbai Charkop citizens protest BMCs tree trimmingWitness statements dont support Tanushree Duttas sexual harassment story says Mumbai copsSleepless on SV Road Mumbai Metro 2B din ruins nights of Santacruz residentsSkymet Below normal rainfall expected in monsoon 15 per cent chance of droughtMumbai Crime Nigerian duo arrested for stealing money from ATMsBody of unidentified woman found at Juhu ChowpattyCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesEdited by midday online desk with inputs from Agencies