Vatva woman ends life, live-in partner arrested for abetment

A 22-year-old woman allegedly died by suicide at her rented accommodation in the Vatva area of Ahmedabad on Thursday morning. Police have arrested her live-in partner, under the case of abetment to suicide, officials said.

As per the first information report (FIR) lodged at Vatva Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the deceased, identified as Pooja, was found dead in a room on the second floor of a house at Navapara, before 8 am on January 22.

The complaint was filed by the woman’s mother, Sindhudevi Kushvaha (42), who alleged that her daughter had been in a relationship for the past two years with Mohammad Abid Sheikh (35), a resident of Sayedwadi in Vatva. During this period, Pooja had been living separately with him in the area, she said.

The complainant stated that her daughter had repeatedly asked Sheikh to marry her, but he refused. She further alleged that he suspected Pooja’s character, frequently assaulted her and subjected her to sustained physical and mental harassment, which eventually drove her to take the extreme step.

Police said the woman was found lying on the floor with visible injuries and signs consistent with hanging. Injuries were also noticed on her left wrist. Family members told investigators that the landlord alerted them about the incident on Thursday morning, following which they rushed to the spot.

Based on the complaint, Vatva police have arrested Sheikh for abetment to suicide under section of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Statements of family members, neighbours and the landlord have been recorded, police said.

A police officer said further investigation is under way to ascertain the sequence of events leading to the woman’s death and to determine the extent of the accused’s role in the case.