'My dad is not able to give dowry and if we sell our land my brother wouldn't survive', the girl reportedly wrote in her sucide note.
An 18 year old girl in Maharashtra's Latur reportedly committed suicide to save her father, a poor farmer with a one acre farm, from having to pay dowry for her marriage.
"Mohini Pandurang Bhise hung herself when no one was home. Her relatives brought her to the hospital and we did her postmortem (examination) on the doctor's suggestion. She had written one suicide note as well saying that she is committing suicide because her family doesn't have money for dowry," a police official said.
Villagers described Mohini as a bright student who studied till the 12th grade and had scored above 80 per cent marks in her board exam. But, ever since her parents began looking for prospective grooms, neighbours say, demands for dowry were being made.
"Since her father wasn't able to get more work and has only an acre of land, she wrote in the suicide letter, 'my dad is not able to give dowry and if we sell our land my brother wouldn't survive'," said a neighbor.
In her suicide note, the 18 year old also asked her father not to observe any religious rituals after her death. The police say they are investigating the case.