Latest news with #Rithanya
The Hindu
20-07-2025
- The Hindu
Gender Agenda Newsletter Just tired
Just tired When we first decided to co-author the newsletter, Sunalini, Radhika, and I, feminists from different age groups, geographies, and socio-economic locations, decided that gender-based violence could not be the focus of Gender Agenda. That way, we would be subscribing to the general notion of what is perceived as 'gender-related news', often tilted towards reportage on heinous crimes against women and gender minorities. Taking that route would defeat several facets of our personhood — the politics surrounding our bodies, access, and autonomy. Yet, this week, the deaths of two young women in the country, prove repeatedly that gender-based violence — familial and institutional — is a reality for us. Earlier this week, tennis player Radhika Yadhav, was shot dead by her father Deepak Yadav, in Gurugram. He fired five bullets at the 25-year-old who was cooking in the kitchen. The police claim that Deepak was jeered at by fellow villagers for allegedly living off his daughter. They taunted him for having raised a daughter who wore make-up and created content on Instagram. Here, her father's honour was linked to Radhika's behaviour. Four days later, in Odisha, a 20-year-old student set herself ablaze on the premises of the Fakir Mohan College against the college's alleged inaction on her formal complaint of sexual harassment by the Head of the Department of Teacher Education, Samira Kumar Sahu. Going by what the principal said, the student faced rustication after bringing up the harassment complaint. 'Whether she meant to take her life or not is difficult to say, but it will be entered into the records as death by suicide,' wrote reporter Satyasundar Barik. Here, the student's voice felt unheard. Another report put together by the data team of The Hindu that accessed numbers from the National Crime Records Bureau, said that a string of dowry-related deaths had been reported from across the country in 2022. Of the 7,000 dowry deaths reported every year on average, only around 4,500 were charge-sheeted by the police. This is, of course, only reported crimes. Rithanya, 27, from Thiruppur, died of suicide due to harassment by her husband and in-laws last month. A chilling video that circulated online showcased Rithanya's father who praised his daughter for being committed to her husband even in her death. Rithanya did not just endure torture from her in-laws, but also saw her parents washing their hands of her. When families and institutions that are meant to form a circle of protection around us fail, where do we go? Do we rant, write open letters, beg for mercy, endure every inappropriate touch, and become torchbearers of patriarchy ourselves? I am tired of ex-gratia amounts, condolence tweets, opposition party protests, and candlelight marches. Wordsworth Gendered travel People across genders perceive travel differently, often influenced by social and cultural factors. This leads to varied patterns in trip frequency, distance, mode, and even the perceived safety of travel environments. Recently, Ladies Compartment, a group exhibition by Method (India), now on view at Galerie Melike Bilir in Hamburg, Germany, displayed the artworks of six women, some of whom showed the quiet solidarities of the ladies' compartment in Mumbai's local trains. Toolkit A report released by market research firm Kantar states that Indian advertisements continue to perpetuate traditional beliefs about masculinity. Several outdated norms persist more strongly in the media than they do in men's own beliefs, the report reads. Men said that 35% of ads perpetuated the belief that real men don't cry, 27% of them perpetuated the fear that men do not voice their fears, and 24% felt that sharing problems with women reduces status. Ouch! A child is not equal to the woman; a woman is not equal to the man. A man is not equal to the elderly person in the family. We all have different roles, and we are all different.' Kangana Ranaut, Hindi cinema actor and MP Women we meet Fifty-one-year-old Safira Altaf can move a barbell that has a load of 65 kilograms with relative ease. She began weight training three years ago and says that the experience has been incredibly freeing for her as she is confident about taking care of herself when she is old. 'Once, many years ago, a doctor told me women should not lift heavy weights. I blindly followed him. How foolish I was. After years of ignoring my body, I have now begun lifting weights again. I am incredibly strong,' she says. Safira suggests women ignore their partners and children for five hours a week to focus on themselves. 'It is imperative to lift. It helps prevent lifestyle diseases. Mental health too,' she says.
New Indian Express
13-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Dowry death: Rithanya's dad demands appointment of special police officer to probe daughter's case
COIMBATORE: The father of 27-year-old A Rithanya who died by suicide last month on Saturday demanded the appointment of a special police officer to investigate the case. He petitioned Inspector General (West Zone) T Senthil Kumar in this regard alleging delay in the investigation. Addressing media in infront of the Inspector General's office at Race Course in the city after submitting a petition, Rithanya's father R Annadurai said, "We have some suspicion over the investigation. We are demanding a special officer or CBI inquiry as the investigation officer is favouring the family of Rithanya's husband Kavin Kumar. The DySP had initially released Rithanya's mother-in-law on station bail, raising our suspicion that the probe is not fair." "The IG assured me that he will take steps to speed up the investigation. We got to know that the delay in the investigation has been due to the wait for scientific results," he said. Rithanya had taken her life late last month due to the alleged dowry harassment. Her husband and his parents have been arrested and booked under sections pertaining to cruelty by husband or relatives and abetment of suicide. Rithanya had married Kavin in April. Kuppuraj, an advocate, told media persons that the police should invoke more sections against the accused in this case. "As the police registered a case under BNS sections 108 and 95 there is a high chance that the accused may get bail in the Madras High Court. Sexual harassment charges and those under a few other sections too should be charged against the accused. We have petitioned the IG to include these sections," the advocate stated, while also alleging that the police are purposefully not registering harassment charges.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- The Hindu
Tiruppur dowry death: bail plea of Chitradevi rejected
The bail application of Chitradevi, mother-in-law of Rithanya (27) of Kaikattipudur in Cheyur limits who ended her life recently in a case of dowry death, was rejected in the Court of Principal District and Sessions Judge, on Friday. The Judge, Gunasekaran, rejected the bail that Chitradevi had applied for, on Monday. The bail plea of her husband Easwaramoorthy and son Kavinkumar was also rejected on July 7. Chitradevi had applied for bail separately since she was arrested a week later. The three were arrested by the Cheyur police, based on a complaint lodged by Rithanya's father Annadurai, under BNS Sections of dowry death and abetment of suicide.
New Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Dowry death: Rithanya's kin meet with EPS, allege pressure to derail probe
TIRUPPUR: The parents of 27-year-old Rithanya who killed herself last weekend over alleged dowry harassment at the house of her husband, who is the grandson of a Tiruppur-based Congress leader, have alleged political pressure to derail the probe into the case. They met the Leader of Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami at his residence in Salem on Tuesday and urged him to raise his voice against it and ensure a proper probe into the matter. Rithanya's body was found in her car near Cheyur on Saturday evening. Police investigation revealed that Rithanya poisoned herself inside the car. Rithanya, daughter of businessman Annadurai and Jayasudha of KK Pudur in Avinashi, had married E Kavin Kumar (28) of Palankarai near Avinashi on April 11, 2025. He is the son of businessman Easwaramoorthy and Sithradevi. Easwaramoorthy's father is R Krishnan, the Tiruppur Urban District Congress President. Before killing herself, Rithanya had sent voice messages to her father, Annadurai, alleging that Kavin and his parents had mentally and physically abused her. The voice clip went viral on social media soon after her death.
News18
30-06-2025
- News18
'Can't Bear Torture': In Last Message, Tamil Nadu Woman Called In-laws 'Criminals' Before Suicide
Last Updated: Rithanya also accused her in-laws of mental torture and alleged she was physically assaulted by her husband Kavin 'I can't live with him," said Rithanya, a 27-year-old woman from Tamil Nadu, in one of seven voice notes that she had sent to her father before death by suicide. The woman ended her life by consuming poison o n June 28, alleging that she was subjected to severe physical and mental abuse from her husband and in-laws over dowry. The case of harassment over dowry came to light after Rithanya's body was found in her car on a road in Tiruppur district. She tied the knot with Kavin Kumar (27) in April this year. After Rithanya's death, Rithanya's father, RG Annadurai (53), filed a police complaint that led to the arrest of Kavin Kumar (27) and his mother Chithradevi (47). In her messages, Rithanya said she does not want to live with his husband. 'He and his family are criminals. They planned to destroy my life," she said in one recording, adding that she cannot marry again, The News Minute reported. Rithanya also accused her in-laws of mental torture and alleged she was physically assaulted by Kavin. 'I cannot bear the mental torture that they are giving me, nor can I be with him physically," she said. 'I'm not lying to you, Dad. This is the truth," she added. Rithanya, a newlywed and daughter of Annadurai—a garment businessman and former political candidate —was married to 28-year-old Kavin Kumar on April 11, 2025, in a lavish ceremony. The wedding involved a hefty dowry that included 300 sovereigns of gold, a Volvo car worth Rs 70 lakh, and expenses amounting to Rs 2.5 crore. Additionally, there was an assurance of another 200 sovereigns of gold to be given later. However, within just ten days of marriage, the situation turned grim. Rithanya began facing severe harassment from her husband Kavin Kumar, father-in-law Easwaramoorthy, and mother-in-law Chithradevi, all of whom pressured her over the promised remaining dowry. The abuse was not just verbal but included acts of cruelty, such as making her stand for hours over trivial matters. On Saturday afternoon, after a visit to the Thalakkarai Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal Temple, Rithanya reportedly bought pesticide from Seyur. While on her way to the Mondipalayam Perumal Temple, she consumed the substance inside her car parked along the roadside. Passersby noticed her unconscious and informed the police. She was taken to the Avinashi Government Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival. Suicide Prevention: If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata) First Published: June 30, 2025, 21:36 IST
