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Surge in spousal murders in India reflects deeper societal issues: NMHP Advisor

Hyderabad, June 11 (UNI) A surge in spousal murders in India reflects deeper societal issues where forced marriages and inability to express views about relationship choices can lead to violent outcomes, according to Dr Naresh Puohit, Advisor National Mental Health Programme (NMHP).
The recent tragic murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, a young businessman from Indore, allegedly killed by his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in Meghalaya is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastation caused by dishonesty in relationships.
Marriage is a sacred bond built on trust and mutual respect. When these values are absent, the consequences can be catastrophic, said Dr Naresh, noted Mental Health Expert.
Talking to UNI after addressing a Continuing Medical Education Programme (CME) on "Understanding Toxic Relationships" organised by the Hyderabad-based Institute of Mental Health here on Wednesday, Dr Purohit emphasised that instead of resorting to violence, individuals must have the courage to choose divorce or to walk away from marriages that conflict with their true feelings. Taking an innocent life is never the answer, it creates a cycle of pain and suffering for all involved.
Quoting his recent research paper titled "The Psychology Behind Spousal Killings", the Principal Investigator for the Association of Studies In Mental Care, pointed that one of the leading factors that makes spouses commit such heinous act is the desire to take over, control and dominate the relationship; and the failure to achieve that can lead to frustration, prompting them to kill their partner.
"The relationships where the partner has the intense ambition of jealousy and possessiveness can fuel anger and resentment, whereas little events can take up huge manifestations like killing or murdering the partner," he added
"The past experiences of an individual can lead to such killings. Where prior bad experiences may erode trust in the institution of marriage, leading to the killing of the partner," he said
He averred that several personality disorders, such as narcissistic personality disorder, where one is extremely egotistical or is very suspicious of the other partner, can predispose individuals to aggressive behaviors and a lack of empathy.
"According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) homicides resulting from love affairs and marital relationships are the third and fourth most prevalent motives for murder in India. Statistically, approximately one in ten murders in the nation is perpetrated by a lover, spouse, or partner."
"From 2010 to 2014, the proportion of murders linked to love affairs and relationships fluctuated between 7 percent and 8 percent. In contrast, from 2015 to 2022, this percentage increased to between 10 percent and 11 per cent, and the trend shows no signs of abating," the renowned physician added.
Experts pointed out that in most spousal crimes, the person isn’t mentally ill; they just don’t care how their emotions and actions affect others. It's much more than just poor mental well-being, it's complete moral erosion.
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