Indian expat Athulya laid to rest in Kerala after tragedy in Sharjah

The mortal remains of Athulya Sekhar, the Indian expat from Kerala who was found dead in her Sharjah apartment on July 19 – her 30th birthday – were laid to rest in her hometown of Kollam.
Her body had been flown to Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday night. Athulya’s sister and brother-in-law, who live in Sharjah, also flew back on another flight. The body was received by grieving family members and local authorities in Kerala, where an inquest and a re-postmortem was reportedly conducted at the request of her family.

Re-postmortem conducted in Kollam

The procedure took place at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Parippally, Kollam. “The procedures lasted about three hours. They were completed by afternoon, and the body was released to the family,” a hospital staff member told Gulf News.

A senior police officer told reporters that a lookout notice has been issued for Athulya’s husband, Satheesh Sivasankara Pillai.
“We are awaiting the findings of the post-mortem report for further action,” the officer said.

Any new findings in the re-postmortem report will play a key role in the ongoing Kerala Police investigation against Satheesh, who has been accused of long-term physical and emotional abuse. He faces multiple charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including abetment of suicide, grievous hurt using dangerous weapons, wrongful restraint, and cruelty by a husband or his relatives. He also faces charges under various sections of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Heart-wrenching farewell in Chavara

Athulya’s funeral was held in her native place of Chavara amid heart-wrenching scenes, as friends, family, and community members gathered to bid her farewell. Her 10-year-old daughter performed the final rites. According to a relative, the girl was informed of her mother’s death only a day earlier.
The case has sparked widespread outrage, particularly after videos surfaced online allegedly showing Satheesh abusing Athulya. Subsequently, Satheesh was dismissed from his job as a site engineer in Dubai.

Family dispute redressal forum in Sharjah

Additionally, the Indian Association Sharjah (IAS), which had provided logistical and legal support to the family, announced the launch of a new initiative to address growing concerns over domestic violence among the expat community. The ‘Family Dispute Redressal Session’ will begin on August 2, offering weekly counselling and mediation services.