VIJAYAWADA: As many as 16 instances of spousal murders have been reported across the state during the last three months.
Out of these, four were of wives killing their husbands while the rest were of husbands murdering wives. Apart from cases of spousal murders, at least three children were killed to exact revenge against the spouse in Guntur and West Godavari districts.
A quick analysis of the reasons behind murders point to infidelity, followed by marital discord, alcoholism and dowry. Just four days ago, police arrested a man, along with his uncle, for allegedly murdering his wife by strangulation under Gudur police limits in Nellore.
Cops ascertained that refusal to provide additional dowry and inability to conceive a child were the primary reason behind the crime. Taking advantage of the prevailing Covid-19 situation, cops pointed out that murder by asphyxiation appears to be a common modus operandi, as the culprits attempt to hide the death as arising out of Covid-19. However, a simple postmortem reveals the cause of death. Cops pointed out that it comes as no surprise that the Covid-19 lockdown has led to an increase in incidents of domestic violence in the state. Out of 1,300 SOS calls received in the Disha application in the past 16 months, domestic violence accounts for close to 70%.
As far as murders against women are concerned, 12 of them were committed by husbands, three by jilted lovers and one by the minor victim’s neighbour after rape. Out of these incidents, in one case the husband committed suicide after killing his wife in Holagunda in Kurnool district on July 12. Cops pointed out that he took the extreme step impulsively after his wife refused him money for alcohol. “In almost all the cases, the dispute happened over a long-pending issue but reached a tipping point during the curfew period as they were forced to remain indoors,” cops said.
“However, we have attended to several SOS calls and prevented murders thanks to the Disha app,” a senior Disha police official said.
