HYDERABAD: Behind the vibrant tapestry of Indian marriages, a dark reality is unfolding. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data from 2018 to 2023 paints a grim picture of spousal violence, with hundreds of husbands and wives losing their lives to domestic disputes. In 2022 alone, 270 wives were murdered by their husbands, while 220 husbands were killed by their wives, reflecting a troubling symmetry in lethal marital conflicts. Over the past five years, an estimated 1,125 wives and 1,375 husbands have been victims of spousal homicide, underscoring a persistent crisis.
Take the story of Gopali Devi, a 42-year-old from a small town, whose life unraveled after taking a job at a clothes factory. Her newfound independence led to tensions with her husband, Dhannalal, culminating in a tragic end. Such cases highlight how shifting gender dynamics can ignite fatal conflicts. A 2024 study notes that financially independent women are increasingly involved in violent altercations, challenging traditional narratives of victimhood. Experts like a Hyderabad-based lawyer Kauturi Achyuta Rama Rao point to changing marital expectations.
“Modern relationships face pressures unknown to past generations,” he says. “When communication fails, some resort to extreme measures.” The NCRB data, though incomplete for specific spousal murder statistics, shows love affairs and marital disputes as key motives for murder, ranking third and fourth nationwide. Under-Reporting of Spousal Violence: Honour killings and dowry deaths may be misclassified as suicides or accidents. The International Honour Based Violence Awareness Network estimates around 1,000 honour deaths annually in India, higher than NCRB’s dowry death figures.
