Kerala woman dies by suicide following ‘mob trial’ for speaking to male friend

The incident took place on Sunday within the Dharmadam Assembly constituency represented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The woman, Raseena, a native of Parambayi in Vengad panchayat, was found dead at her home on Tuesday. She is survived by her husband, who works in the Middle East, and three minor children.

Police said arrests were made based on the woman’s suicide note. The arrested accused were identified as C Mubasheer, 28, K A Faisal, 34, and V K Rafnas, 24, all SDPI workers from areas under Vengad panchayat. Rafnas is a distant relative of Raseena’s.

According to an eyewitness, the incident took place at around 3.30 pm on Sunday at Kayalode, along the Kannur-Kuthuparamba road. “Raseena, who was on her two-wheeler, was speaking to a person who was sitting in his car near a masjid. Suddenly, a man turned up and looked into the car… Soon, more people started coming in. Around 25 people reached the spot and the woman was told to leave,” he said.

After Raseena was sent home, the gang nabbed the man in the car, identified as Rayes, who recently returned from the Middle East, and allegedly questioned him at a nearby ground until 5.30 pm.

Raseena’s father, A Muhammed, a local CPI(M) worker, said: “Someone called me and I rushed to the ground. Around 25 people were found to be questioning him. My daughter had returned to her house, which is half a kilometre away from mine. Then I went and took her and the three children to my house.”

By this time, Rayes had been taken to the local SDPI office, where they allegedly kept him till 8.30 pm. The group also allegedly manhandled the man and seized his mobile phone as well as a tablet that they found in his car. Later, they summoned his family and let him leave with them. His gadgets were allegedly not returned.

Raseena’s father said his daughter did not speak to anyone since Sunday night. “The next day also, she remained shut in a room. She did not eat and was found weeping. On Monday evening, I consoled her, but she was shattered. The next day, I had planned to take her for counselling,” he said.

The local police station in-charge, Bavish P V, said: “We had recovered a suicide note from the woman, who said she was taking the extreme step over the humiliation she had faced. We are looking into the involvement of more people. Many had gone into hiding after the woman’s death. The custody of the arrested, who are remanded in judicial custody, will be sought in the coming days.”