A 24-year-old woman, who was the victim of a horrific assault involving HIV-positive blood, has died by suicide in Hyderabad. The tragedy follows an incident last month where a relative allegedly injected her with the virus after she refused to marry him.
The initial assault occurred on March 11. The accused, identified as Manohar, reportedly forced his way into the woman's home and injected her with his own HIV-infected blood. This act of violence was a retaliatory strike after the woman called off their planned marriage.
According to police investigations, the accused and the victim were relatives. Their parents had originally arranged the alliance. However, as Manohar’s parents were known to be living with HIV, the woman’s family requested that he undergo a test in September of last year. When the results returned positive, the woman immediately cancelled the marriage. Manohar was arrested shortly after the subsequent assault in March.
Despite receiving medical attention and support, investigators believe the victim struggled deeply with the psychological aftermath. On Friday, nearly a month after the attack, the woman was found at her home. Although her family rushed her to a government hospital, she was declared dead on arrival.
Local authorities suspect that the combined weight of fear, social stigma, and the immense psychological impact of the attack pushed her to take this step. The Pocharam IT Corridor police are currently verifying all aspects of the case.
NOTE: If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, please reach out to professional helplines. In India, you can contact Kiran (National Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline) at 1800-599-0019
