The victim's family has denied any role of mob justice. Instead, they allege the suicide was caused by emotional and financial exploitation by a 21-year-old man with whom Razina was secretly involved.
Published Jun 20, 2025 | 11:38 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 20, 2025 | 11:38 PM
Police confirmed that Razina left a suicide note, in which she described her ordeal of being publicly humiliated for speaking with her male friend.
Synopsis: A 40-year-old woman’s suicide in Kerala’s Kannur has sparked a political storm after three men affiliated with the SDPI were arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide through moral policing. However, the victim’s family has denied the moral policing angle, instead blaming emotional and financial exploitation by a 21-year-old man with whom the victim was reportedly in a secret relationship.
The death by suicide of a 40-year-old woman, Razina, in Kayalode near Kuthuparamba in Kerala’s Kannur district has taken a contentious turn, with her death reportedly triggered by alleged moral policing.
Police have arrested three local men – all said to be affiliated with the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) – on charges of abetment to suicide, citing a note left behind by the victim. However, her family has denied any role of mob justice.
Instead, they allege the suicide was caused by emotional and financial exploitation by a 21-year-old man with whom Razina was secretly involved.
The case has also taken on political overtones. The CPI(M) has described the incident as an act of religious vigilantism, while SDPI leaders have accused their rivals of politicising a family matter.
Razina’s death on Tuesday, 17 June was initially reported as a suicide.
But on Wednesday, police arrested three men – VC Mubashir, KA Faisal and VK Rafnas, all natives of Parambayi and said to be SDPI supporters – on charges of abetment to suicide.
Kannur City Police Commissioner Nitin Raj confirmed that Razina left a suicide note, which named the arrested individuals and described her ordeal of being publicly humiliated for speaking with her male friend.
Police say the young man, a native of Mayyil, was assaulted by the accused on Sunday and is now missing. His mobile phone and other belongings were allegedly taken.
Accused persons
A detailed investigation is now being led by the Thalassery Assistant Commissioner of Police. Police suspect more people may have been involved.
The three arrested men have been remanded by the Thalassery Judicial First Class Magistrate Court.
Pinarayi Sub-Inspector Umesh confirmed the recovery of Razina’s suicide note and said that, based on its contents, charges of abetment to suicide have been filed.
However, Razina’s mother, Fatima, disputed the moral policing narrative.
She alleged that it was Razina’s male friend – with whom she reportedly had a secret three-year relationship – who exploited her financially and emotionally, driving her to suicide.
According to Fatima, the young man stole her daughter’s gold and money, left her in debt, and had been secretly visiting her.
Fatima also revealed that the family had arranged Razina’s marriage by giving nearly 40 sovereigns of gold, which is now missing.
“The marriage was arranged with 40 sovereigns of gold. Now, there’s no gold, and she had borrowed from many people. We now suspect the young man took everything,” Fatima said.
On top of that, they say Razina had taken loans from several people.
Fatima alleged that the young man manipulated her daughter emotionally and financially, taking money from her in the name of their relationship.
“My daughter’s husband is a respectable and innocent man. He knew nothing of this. This male friend had been meeting Razina regularly, without anyone’s knowledge,” Fatima said, adding that she plans to file a police complaint against the youth soon.
Furthermore, she added that the three arrested youths were relatives who intervened out of concern, not hostility.
Fatima also said there was no moral policing, and that the “relatives only questioned” Razina because of the perceived social embarrassment of a married woman being seen alone with a man in public.
She described the accused as “innocents.” Among those in custody is Fatima’s sister’s son.
“They had only brought Razina home after finding her with a young man. They meant no harm,” Fatima said emotionally.
She alleged that the real culprit is the young man who had been in a secret relationship with Razina for the past three years – something the family says they only discovered after her death.
The incident has triggered political reactions, with CPI(M) Central Committee member PK Sreemathy condemning it as a case of “Talibanism” and mob justice against a Muslim woman.
She likened the public humiliation Razina faced to an act of terror and demanded strict action against all those responsible, calling it a “mob murder.”
Meanwhile, SDPI Kannur District President Basheer Kannadiparambu denied the party’s involvement.
He admitted that the arrested youths were SDPI activists but asserted that they intervened as relatives, not as party workers.
He said the SDPI office was only used as a venue for a family discussion, which was mediated by local community leaders – including a Muslim League Dharmadam Mandal Joint Secretary, the Pallipuram School PTA President, and a Kolachery Panchayat member.
“There was a suspicion that the young man had threatened Razina by sharing some visuals on his phone. That’s why his mobile was seized. Claims of assault are baseless. The youths acted as concerned relatives,” Basheer said.
He alleged that the case against the three men was part of a CPI(M) conspiracy and pointed out that Razina’s mother had also raised similar concerns.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
