Kerala youth suicide case: Woman who posted bus harassment clip arrested for abetment; police going soft on accused, allege victim’s kin

KOZHIKODE: Police on Wednesday arrested Shimjitha Mustafa, who is facing suicide abetment charges in connection with the death of 41-year-old Govindapuram-native U Deepak after she posted a social media video alleging sexual harassment on a private bus.

Medical College police in plain clothes apprehended Mustafa, 35, a resident of Valachukettiyil house, Chorode in Vadakara, from a relative's house on Wednesday afternoon. She had been absconding since Monday when police registered a case against her for abetment of suicide.

The woman, former member of Areekode panchayat in Malappuram, had filmed Deepak, a sales executive with a textile firm, during a bus journey last Friday and later shared the video on social media. She alleged that he touched her inappropriately during the journey at Payyanur in Kannur. The video went viral, garnering over two million views within two days Deepak's mother K Kanyaka, in a complaint to district police chief, stated that her son died due to mental trauma after the woman levelled false allegations against him. Subsequently, police booked Mustafa under suicide abetment charges.

Mustafa's medical examination was conducted at Koyilandy taluk hospital. She was produced before Kunnamangalam first class magistrate court under heavy police security and remanded in custody for 14 days.

A large number of people, including BJP activists, gathered at Medical College police station after hearing of her arrest. BJP workers staged protests, alleging that police had delayed the arrest and extended undue support to the woman, including transporting her in a private vehicle after taking her into custody.

Youth Congress activists staged a protest when she was taken to Manjeri special jail in the evening. Meanwhile, Deepak's family alleged that police were going soft on the accused.

They claimed that the use of a private vehicle and earlier recording her statement before she went into hiding indicated police support. The family also demanded that, in addition to Section 108 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (abetment of suicide), provisions of IT Act be invoked.