In a case raising fresh concerns around “Love Jihad” in Kerala, a 21-year-old woman named Anjana Satheesh was found dead under suspicious circumstances at the residence of her live-in partner, Mohammad Nihas, in Karalikkonam village of Kollam district. The case has been registered as an unnatural death, and investigations are ongoing amidst serious questions about the nature of their relationship and her final moments.
Anjana, the daughter of Satheesh and Ambika and a native of Karalikkonam, had been in a relationship with Nihas, a private bus conductor, for several months.
After familial opposition to their relationship, the couple approached the courts, where Anjana stated she wished to continue living with Nihas. The court allowed the couple to live together based on her voluntary declaration.
However, the couple’s relationship had reportedly begun to unravel in recent weeks, with sources close to the family citing frequent fights and rising tension.
On July 29, Anjana was found hanging from a ceiling fan in their home. Her live-in partner, Nihas, claimed that he had left for work earlier that morning and returned to discover her lifeless body.
What has made the incident more suspicious is the absence of a suicide note and the fact that Anjana’s phone had been wiped clean of data. Additionally, initial observations by the police and medical staff reported multiple bruises on her body, signs that investigators say warrant further forensic scrutiny.
“She was rushed to Kadakkal Taluk Hospital immediately after she was found, but the doctors declared her brought dead,” said a police officer from the Chadayamangalam police station. “We have registered a case of unnatural death. The body has been sent to Parippally Medical College for post-mortem. The full report will determine the next course of action.”
The young woman’s family had earlier filed a missing person complaint after she left home to live with Nihas. During police mediation sessions, Anjana had reportedly refused to return to her parents and chose instead to continue living with her partner. Following the court’s direction and her consent, the case had been closed at that time. However, tensions between the couple seem to have escalated since.
Local voices have raised concerns over the pattern of similar cases in the state, where Hindu women involved in interfaith relationships with Muslim men have ended up either missing or dead under mysterious circumstances.
Anjana’s brother, Ananthu, has demanded a thorough investigation, stating that the family had always feared for her safety. “We had no idea this would end like this. We didn’t even get a call when she was taken to the hospital. We found out after her death,” he said.
The police have not ruled out foul play and have stated that all possibilities, including abetment to suicide and murder, are being examined.
For now, the death of Anjana Satheesh remains a painful mystery. Whether it was suicide, coercion, or something more sinister will depend on what the autopsy and digital forensics reveal. But the incident has once again ignited debates around interfaith relationships and the pattern of targeted grooming, often described as ‘Love Jihad’ in Kerala.
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