Keralite jailed in UK for strangling wife ‘while on zoom call to brother in Kerala’

LONDON June 9: Domestic violence has been increasing within the Keralite community in recent years. Here now we have a court order where a Keralite was sentenced to 20 months prison for trying to kill his wife.

The Keralite is named as Tony  (name changed), who is married to the mother of his two children and living in Treforest in Wales, Wales Online reported.

The first incident leading to the court case happened in May 2023, while the couple were in a shop. Arguments arose between the two in regards to wife having friends as she had spoken to other flatmates in the previous day. The heated argument led to Tony grabbing her by the throat in a life threatenining manner. The following day the wife rang family members back in Kerala and told them that she need a divorce as she has had enough from her husband.

While she was on the zoom video call to her brother in Kerala, Tony came from behind and pulled a towel around her neck and asked her brother who was online “look what I can do to your sister”.

Tony further went onto sit on top of her and slap her face. It was only by luck she ran out through the back of the property and call for help. Tony was arrested. But he blamed his wife for all the issues. The police showed him the video clip where he was trying to strangle her on two occasions and he admitted to the offence.

However, his wife asked the court to be lenient to her husband and informed the court that she has forgiven him. Although the court didnt ignore wife’s plea it said that the court has a duty to the public to pass an appropriate sentence for these very serious offences. The court were very concerned from the contents of the report filed against Tony by the Probation.

The judge imposed a jail term of 20 months considering various other factors demonstrating Tony to improve his attitude towards life.

Domestic violence is increasing among Indians in the UK. According to a report by the National Domestic Violence Helpline, there was a 25% increase in calls from Indian women in 2020-21. The report also found that Indian women are more likely to experience physical and sexual violence than other ethnic groups.

Click to Watch Video on How To Seek Help With Domestic Abuse

There are a number of reasons why domestic violence may be increasing among Indians in the UK. One reason is that many Indian families are patriarchal, and this can lead to a belief that men have the right to control their wives. Another reason is that many Indian women are reluctant to speak out about domestic violence, due to cultural beliefs or fear of reprisals.

Tough measures against domestic abuse in UK

There are a number of things that can be done to address domestic violence among Indians in the UK. One is to raise awareness of the issue and to challenge cultural beliefs that support violence against women. Another is to provide support services for Indian women who are experiencing domestic violence. Finally, it is important to hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable for their actions.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, there are a number of resources available to help. You can call the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit their website at www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk. You can also contact your local police or council for support.