The non-governmental organization 'Ekam Nyay Foundation', based in Gurugram, has released a new documentary report focusing on husband murders and suicides linked to domestic disputes in India. This report is based on cases published in the media and documented by the foundation up to July 14, 2026.
According to the report, 554 such incidents were registered across the country in the first six months of 2026, including 322 husband murders and 232 husband suicides. The foundation emphasizes that these figures only reflect cases that entered the media sphere and notes that many incidents remain unnoticed by the public. Furthermore, there is no separate national official database for victims of domestic violence among men in the country, which may indicate that the real number of cases is significantly higher.
In 194 out of 322 husband murders, accounting for about 60.2 percent, the primary reason was extramarital affairs. In these cases, accusations are made that some wives, along with lovers, planned the murder of their husbands, especially when the husband opposed these relationships or became an obstacle. Thus, illicit relationships accounted for 60 percent of recorded husband murders.
The report also describes extremely brutal methods of committing murders, including poisoning, burning alive, electrocution, strangulation, dismemberment, burying bodies in the ground, and attempts to present the murder as an accident or suicide. Additionally, 88 cases of husband murders, or 27.3 percent, were related to domestic disagreements. Motives such as financial disputes, family conspiracies, and the alleged involvement of the wife's family or her lover were also identified.
In the section on 232 husband suicides, prolonged family conflicts were cited as the most frequent reason, accounting for 104 cases, or 44.83 percent of total suicides. Moreover, 57 cases (24.57 percent) were linked to alleged harassment by the wife or her relatives. Another 29 cases (12.5 percent) were due to extramarital affairs. The remaining cases were related to accusations of false criminal charges, harassment by the lover or her family, and other reasons.
According to the report, the highest number of registered husband murders and husband suicides was recorded in the state of Uttar Pradesh, where 93 murder cases and 103 suicide cases were noted. Among the states mentioned in the report are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar, Karnataka, and Gujarat. The foundation also highlighted 25 of the most notorious and brutal cases of the year, including cases of beheading husbands, dismemberment, poisoning murders, burial under house floors, arson, being pushed into deep ravines, or murders conspired with the wife and her lover.
In several suicide cases, it was mentioned that the deceased left notes or videos indicating prolonged psychological pressure, family disputes, false accusations, attempts to deny children contact, and psychological harassment. Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj, founder of 'Ekam Nyay Foundation', commented on the report, stating that every documented case represents a tragedy resulting in a person's loss of life and family breakdown. She noted that the Ketan Agrawal case attracted national attention, but similar instances where women are accused of murdering their husbands or partners with lovers happen daily.
Bhardwaj clarified that the foundation's goal is not to compare violence against women and violence against men. Its task is to draw attention to an issue that remains almost invisible in public discussions and official statistics. She emphasized that men can also be victims of domestic violence, psychological pressure, coercion, and relationship violence, but they lack specialized institutional support. Based on the absence of a separate category for husband murders and victims of domestic violence among men in official criminal statistics, Bhardwaj stated that the true picture of the problem is not visible. The purpose of this documentation is to stimulate evidence-based decision-making and initiate a balanced discussion about relationship violence that goes beyond gender bias. The foundation appealed to political figures, demanding official recognition for male victims of domestic violence, the development of a gender-neutral support system, the creation of a separate category for husband murders and male victims of domestic violence in the NCRB, strengthening mental health support for men experiencing family stress, and promoting research based on gender-inclusive statistics.
In Tajikistan, the overwhelming majority of registered suicide cases and attempts occurred among men in the first half of 2026. A total of 250 such incidents were recorded during this period: 138 among men and 112 among women.
Bunafsha Faiziddinzoda, Chairperson of the country's Committee for Women and Family Affairs, provided this information. Of the total number of cases, 196 resulted in fatalities, while 54 attempts were prevented. Among minors, 27 cases involving young men and 18 cases involving young women were registered, accounting for 18% of the total.
The highest number of such incidents was noted in the Sogd region of Tajikistan. For comparison, according to the latest assessment by the World Health Organization (WHO), the suicide mortality rate in Uzbekistan in 2021 was 8.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Among men, this figure reached 10.6, and among women, 6.1 cases.
Previously, there was information that law enforcement officers managed to prevent a suicide attempt by a 19-year-old resident of Andijan. The young man was found on a bridge after experiencing a family conflict, and his life was saved.
The death of Akriti Sutar, who recently married in Lodhi Colony, Delhi, has raised many questions. She died after falling from a roof just three months after her wedding.
The family stated that this was not an accident but a murder, leveling accusations against her husband and relatives from her mother-in-law's side. They claim she was being harassed.
Police have discovered some digital evidence that may help determine the direction of the investigation into this case.
