Fresh development reports suggest that Abdul Rasheed, father of Dr E A Ruwais, has been added as the second accused in the case in connection with the suicide of Dr Shahana. It was based on the allegation levelled by Dr Shahana’s mother that he (the father of Ruwais) had pressurised for dowry too. Police arrested Ruwais on December 7, on charges of ‘abetment of suicide’ and ‘Prevention of Dowry Act’. As soon as Abdul Rasheed was added as the accused, Police started to search for him. But, he absconds.
Shahana’s suicide note reportedly alleged that Ruwais and his family members had been pressing for an unaffordable dowry. She had sent a message to Ruwais that her family could not afford such a huge dowry (BMW car, 15 acre land, several lakhs of rupees and a huge volume of gold); hence, she was dying. And immediately, he blocked her on WhatsApp. Then he deleted her messages from his phone. But, Police could get those messages from Shahana’s phone. Ruwais has reportedly agreed on this to the Police. Police alleged that he did not stop her from committing suicide even though he could do it if he wanted.
Shabna’s Case
Close on the heels of the suicide of the lady doctor Shahana, another young woman’s suicide has been reported; it is from Orkkettery, Kozhikode district. And, Shabna’s family alleges domestic violence behind it. They allege that she has been undergoing domestic violence for the last several years. They added that her husband Habeeb and his mother and sister were torturing her for different reasons. Shabna’s family filed a complaint against Habeeb and his family for domestic violence on December 4. It says, she was physically assaulted by her husband’s maternal uncle on December 4, which led her to put an end to her life. They have submitted the CCTV footage of the assault. After the incident, she reportedly ran to her room and locked the room. Her ten-year-old daughter reported to the family members that some unusual sounds were heard from the room. But nobody bothered to check.
Shabna’s relatives reportedly say that her husband and his relatives had been torturing her for different reasons. She had reportedly asked her husband’s family to return the gold, she got from her parents in connection with her wedding, for buying a house, but in vain. It is considered to be the reason for the disputes. Shabna’s mother told the media that she was unhappy at her husband’s home and wanted to buy a new house. She said, they (Shabna’s family) did not know what happened to that gold; Habeeb told them, it was in the locker and threatened divorce if they insisted for it.
Now, a case has been registered for unnatural death, and an investigation is in progress. Police have recorded the statements of Shabna’s daughter, her mother and other relatives. Habeeb’s maternal uncle has reportedly been arrested.
Even though CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) keeps on claiming that Kerala is Numero Uno in all respects and even though the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) claims that Kerala is a culturally advanced State, thanks to their rule for several years, the aforementioned incidents should be an eye-opener for all. Keralites should realise where their State stand.
It is reported that 192 cases of dowry-related deaths took place in Kerala during the last 12 years. Thirty-two, the highest number, was reported in 2012. These figures have been reported by National Crime Records Bureau. The highest number of such incidents has been reported from Southern Kerala, especially in the Thiruvananthapuram district. Eleven dowry-related deaths have been reported in 2023 so far. Three of them are reported from the rural Thiruvananthapuram.
Union Minister V Muraleedharan said that Kerala’s policing is not efficient. The authorities are not keen to handle these issues properly. He said there is no question of high dowry and low dowry. The very idea of dowry is illegal. In Kerala, the administration is a total mess hence people are unable to avail safety and security in their life.
