Verdict in Uthra case to be pronounced today
The Hindu
In a first-of-its-kind case in Kerala, man accused of murdering wife by getting her bitten by snake
When Uthra, a 25-year-old differently abled woman, was found dead due to snakebite, there were murmurs about a ‘sarppa kopam’ among locals. The young homemaker had sustained a near-fatal bite on March 2, 2020 and her life was claimed by another snake on May 7, while she was recovering from the initial attack. She was first bitten by a viper and then a cobra, the two incidents separated by nearly nine weeks. Uthra was found dead at her home in Anchal and the cobra that killed her was also spotted there. But her family was not ready to dismiss the incident as a natural snakebite death and alleged foul play. A police investigation followed, and the chargesheet gave details of a conspiracy, pointing to a murder painstakingly planned and executed by her husband Sooraj. Sooraj was arrested on May 24, along with Suresh, a Kalluvathukkal resident who helped him procure both the snakes. The handler, who later turned approver, said he sold the snakes for ₹10,000.
As per her family, Uthra had been facing harassment from her husband and his family. They said it was impossible for the snake to enter a closed, air-conditioned room with tiled floor. When Uthra was bitten by a viper at Sooraj’s house in Adoor, she was given painkillers and Sooraj did not take her to hospital immediately. She was brought to a private hospital in an unconscious state the next day and she remained there till April 22. The second incident took place a couple of weeks after her discharge from the hospital. Her father Vijayasenan believed that Uthra was murdered for gold and property. Sooraj had married Uthra in March 2018 and the couple had a one-year-old son when she died. He was handed over to Uthra’s parents as per the instruction of District Child Welfare Committee.