WOMEN – 2011 - Indian Social Institute

ambulance. The police recorded Mrs Verma's statement (which was also signed by her) after which Mrs
Verma was taken by the ambulance to the Hospital and returned to her residence the same day." The
High Commission officials visited Verma's residence on December 13, 2010, to enquire about the incident
and Mrs Verma's welfare. At no point was Mrs Verma berated or threatened by the High Commission
officials, the statement said. Mrs Verma, while expressing dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in her
marriage, said that her continued stay in the UK was important from the point of view of treatment of her
younger son (who was at that time bed-ridden and was being tutored at home by a visiting teacher). She
requested that "Verma should be firmly spoken to and should be advised to go in for counselling. Mrs
Verma also indicated that she would like to sort out matters with her husband and would also go with him
for counselling. "Verma was spoken to in appropriate terms and told that the use of force was totally
unacceptable and that under no circumstances or provocation should this recur. Were this to happen
again, it would be untenable. "In his response, Verma said that this was the first time such an incident had
happened and he promised that it would not recur. He also agreed to go for counselling along with Mrs
Verma. "Both Mr and Mrs Verma were suitably told that as diplomats, they were expected to conduct
themselves with dignity and decorum. The High Commission's concerns over such incidents
notwithstanding, the differences between Mr and Mrs Verma would basically have to be sorted out by the
two themselves." In the circumstances, it was decided that the couple be given a chance to amicably sort
out their differences. According to the statement, "On January 3, 2011, Verma formally informed the High
Commission that he was being subjected to harassment and tension by his wife, mother-in-law and Mr
and Mrs Chase. He was also being repeatedly taunted that he was a "criminal". On account of this,
Verma said that he was finding it difficult to live at his official residence as he was afraid that another
incident might take place and he wanted to move out at the earliest. High Commission officials visited
Verma's residence in the evening of January 3, 2011. In the evening of January 3, 2011, Verma moved
out of his official residence into a hotel. His wife and other members of the family continued to stay at the
official residence. On January 5, 2011, Verma informed the High Commission that his wife and other
members of the family were no longer contactable at his official residence and that Mrs Verma was not
responding to his telephone calls. The High Commission also tried to establish contact with Mrs Verma
but without success. As Verma did not have the keys to his house and he needed to access it, he went to
his residence on January 6, 2011, along with a High Commission official, to get the locks changed. At the
request of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the High Commission officials met officials
of the Protocol Directorate of the FCO on January 10, 2011. The High Commission officials emphasised
that the incident was unfortunate and that the High Commission was taking appropriate steps in its wake.
On January 13, 2011, FCO wrote to the High Commission requesting for waiver of Verma's diplomatic
immunity. The note further stated that failure to waive Verma's immunity will result in an immediate
request for Verma and his dependents to be withdrawn from the UK. On January 17, 2011, the High
Commission informed the FCO through a Note Verbale that a decision has been taken by the
Government of India to transfer Anil Verma and his family to India. (Deccan Herald, 20/01/2011)
Mother murders kids, commits suicide
BANGALORE: Salamma killed her two little children, Anand, 3, and Rakshita, 5, by giving them poison
and then allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at her Hongasandra house in Madiwala police
station limits. Police suspect the incident took place between 8am and 9am, after her husband
Munivenkataswamy and sister Lakshmi left for work. Salamma was widowed at a young age and moved
to her sister Lakshmi's house in Hongasandra about six years ago. Lakshmi married Munivenkataswamy,
a bar bender on construction sites. Lakshmi was a flower vendor and the couple had five girls. Salamma
and Munivenkatappa had an affair and after Rakshita was born, he married her. Three years ago, Anand
was born. When Lakshmi got to know about the affair, Lakshmi and Salamma frequently quarrelled.
Neighbours said earlier Munivenkataswamy would have drink or two regularly, but quit the habit recently.
He'd look after the family well and make peace between the squabbling sisters. On Wednesday,
Munivenkataswamy left for work around 5am and around 7am, Lakshmi too left home to sell flowers.
Later, her children went to school. Around noon, Lakshmi returned home and knocked on the door but
there was no reply. She called neighbours, who peeped through the window and found Salamma hanging
inside and the children lying on the floor. Police broke open the door and found that she had given
children food laced with poison. (TOI, 20/01/2011)
Banda rape case: wife defends jailed MLA