Nurse found dead at Punalur home, likely immolated herself

Over the last few days, Kerala has seen a string of suspicious deaths of young married women. In the most recent case, a 34-year-old nurse was discovered dead at her home in Manjamankala, Punalur, on Tuesday evening.

Liji John allegedly committed suicide by lighting herself on fire with kerosene.

She is suspected of committing suicide while alone in the house while her children were at school. The police, on the other hand, stated that the reason for the suicide was unknown.

Liji worked at a private hospital in Punalur, and her husband, who was also a nurse, worked at another hospital in Kollam.

“We have inspected the scene of the incident and will collect detailed statements from family members,” said a Punalur Police Station officer.

As previously reported, two other married women, Akhila (29) and Suchitra (19), committed suicide on Tuesday in Alapuzha district. They were discovered hanging in their homes in the villages of Vadackal and Vallikunnu.

Archana (24) died on Tuesday after being discovered ablaze in her rented house in Venganoor, Thiruvananthapuram district. Suresh, her husband, was seen fleeing the scene. An investigation is underway to determine whether this, too, was a suicide. Suresh’s family, according to Archana’s mother Molly, had been pressuring them for money and a share of property.

These four tragic deaths of four young women on the same day came just a day after another married woman, Vismaya Nair (24), committed suicide in Sasthamkotta after allegedly being tortured by her husband over dowry.

(Suicide is not a solution tactic. If necessary, seek the assistance of a psychiatrist. Phone numbers for assistance: 1056, 0471-2552056)