Kollam: The woman, who was found dead in her Sharjah apartment on Saturday, had allegedly endured ongoing domestic abuse from her husband, her father said on Monday.

Athulya Sekhar (30), a native of Thevalakkara in Kollam, was found hanging in the couple’s flat near Rolla Park, Sharjah, on her birthday.

According to her family, her husband, Satheesh Shankar, employed in Dubai, allegedly subjected her to repeated harassment and physical violence.

“I cannot believe my daughter died by suicide. There is something suspicious about this... She endured abuse for years. He was a heavy drinker and routinely became violent when intoxicated,” her father, Rajasekharan Pillai, told Mathrubhumi News.

Pillai said his daughter often tolerated the abuse for the sake of their 10-year-old daughter, Aaradhika.

“There had been several incidents. We had even filed a police case. Whenever he drank excessively, he would turn violent and abuse her. I was at their house once, about a year ago, and he assaulted her that very day. I took her to her sister’s home. Later, he came and begged for forgiveness, fell at her feet and cried. Out of compassion, she went back to him,” he added.

Athulya had been living in Sharjah for about a year and was set to start a new job at Safari Mall on Saturday. Her daughter remains in Kerala with Athulya’s parents. The authorities in Sharjah have launched an investigation, and the body has been sent for forensic examination.