Taunted over dark-skinned bride, groom kills self

A groom committed suicide in Bihar's Bhagalpur district after his neighbours taunted him about his bride's dark complexion, police said Tuesday.

Rajesh Mandal committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance Monday, a day after his marriage, after some women from his neighbourhood made snide remarks about a fair-complexioned groom getting a dark-complexioned bride, police said.

"He was shocked and angry... he ended his life by consuming poison," a police officer said.
Before dying, he told his elder brother Sanjay that he consumed poison because he was unhappy with the selection of a dark- complexioned bride for him.

"Rajesh was admitted to a hospital in a critical condition where he died Monday," the officer said.

In rural Bihar, fair-complexioned brides are much sought after.