fazTimes media: Sharjah— The death of Athulya Sekhar, a 30-year-old Indian expatriate from Kerala, has deeply affected the Indian community in the UAE and throughout India. She was found dead in her apartment in Sharjah on July 19, the same day she was supposed to begin a new job and celebrate her birthday. Athulya’s story has become even more tragic after it was confirmed by a forensic report from the Sharjah Public Prosecution that she died by hanging, which is considered suicide. Although the forensic report has given some answers, it has also caused a lot of sadness and anger, especially because Athulya’s family has accused her husband, Satheesh Sivasankara Pillai, of domestic violence.

It was reportedly Satheesh who first found her body.

Athulya had moved to the Rolla area in Sharjah to live with her husband, while her 10-year-old daughter stayed in Kerala with her grandparents. It was a fresh start—new job, new place—but it turned into a sudden and sad loss that has shocked everyone in the community. Family members, talking to the press outside a Sharjah court, said they got the official report from the forensic team.

The report said there was no foul play involved. “We got a letter from the Public Prosecution saying the cause of death was suicide by hanging,” her brother-in-law told reporters, along with people from the Indian Association Sharjah (IAS).

But the family has made it clear: Their search for justice isn’t over.

Athulya's husband, Satheesh, a site engineer for a company in Dubai, has lost his job. This happened after her family shared videos that show him possibly hurting her both physically and emotionally.

According to Gulf News, a senior HR person from Satheesh's company said, "We made this decision based on what was reported in the media and the videos online.

The videos showed clear signs of violent behavior, which goes against our company's values. "

In Kerala, Athulya’s parents have officially filed a complaint.

The New Indian Express reports that Satheesh is now facing several charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:

Section 85: Helping someone commit suicide
Section 115(2): Causing serious injury with dangerous weapons
Section 118(1): Keeping someone trapped against their will
Section 103(1): Being cruel to a wife or her family members

He is also being charged under the Dowry Prohibition Act, Sections 3 and 4. These sections cover both giving and asking for dowry, a problem that still affects many marriages in India.

Satheesh defended himself by talking to local Malayalam newspapers in the UAE. He said he wasn’t involved and wasn’t at home when the terrible thing happened. He also said there were problems in their marriage, like arguments about personal choices, including an abortion Athulya had without his permission.

Athulya’s family said these things are not true.

They said she was going through a lot of stress and sadness because of the abuse she faced. Her brother-in-law, who is now helping the family in the UAE, said the police in Kerala have started an investigation. They are in touch with the family and plan to continue the case once they go back home.

Athulya's body is now being arranged to be sent back to Kerala, where her last rituals will happen. The family is determined to get justice through the Indian courts. "Once we get back home, we will start the process to investigate the matter," said her brother-in-law. The Indian Association Sharjah (IAS) has been very helpful in assisting the family with the legal and administrative challenges after the incident.

A Disturbing Pattern: Another Death, Another Cry for Help

Sadly, Athulya's death is not alone.

Just 10 days earlier, another Indian woman from Kerala was found dead, hanging in her Sharjah apartment after reportedly suffocating her 16-month-old daughter. Her family has also filed a complaint in Kerala, blaming her husband and in-laws for a long history of domestic abuse.

These two sad events have made people in the Indian expat community think deeply and are putting more pressure on officials to create better support systems. Al Jazeera reports that India and Gulf countries now need to work together to respond more quickly and effectively to cross-border domestic abuse cases, especially for women living abroad who may have few local connections.

IAS has started a new program to help families in trouble. This comes after more reports of problems in expat families. The Indian Association Sharjah is setting up weekly meetings every Saturday starting August 2 at their office.

The IAS President, Nissar Thalangara, said in an interview with Gulf News, "This is something we are doing to help." He added that many women don't speak up about their issues. The program wants to give them a safe place to talk, get help from lawyers, and receive support from counselors.

The meetings will bring in people like community leaders, mental health experts, and legal professionals.

They will work together to solve family problems before they get worse.

The Bigger Picture: Dealing with Mental Health and Social Pressure

Although domestic violence is the main issue in Athulya’s story, mental health experts say there are bigger problems in society that can make personal suffering worse, like feeling alone, having money worries, and not getting enough emotional help.

Dr. Farah Khan, a clinical psychologist in Dubai, says, “Many women from South Asia who live abroad are in difficult emotional situations. They are often far from family and friends and don’t have easy access to mental health services. Keeping quiet about abuse and depression only makes things harder.”

She also said that mental health programs run by communities, along with better legal options, could help stop such sad events from happening again.

Conclusion: Seeking Justice and Hope

Athulya Sekhar passed away on her 30th birthday, far from home and away from her daughter. Her death has deeply affected the community. Yet, amid sadness, her story is starting an important conversation about domestic violence, women’s mental health, and the need for better support for Indian expatriates.

Her family's strong wish to find justice is encouraging others to speak out. The new support platform provided by the IAS could be a big help for families in danger. As reported by BBC News, raising awareness is the first step, but real change needs ongoing effort, legal action, and most importantly, kindness.

At FazTimes, we prioritize accuracy, confidence, and strong journalistic standards. To ensure every news story we share is real, we verify it with multiple trustworthy and independent sources.

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