Family petitions CM for NIA probe into death of woman in Kothamangalam

A nine-member Special Investigation Team led by Muvattupuzha DySP has been formed to probe the case related to the death of a 23-year-old woman found hanging in her house in Kothamangalam last week.

The decision came on a day when the family of the victim petitioned the Chief Minister and the State Police Chief demanding a probe by the National Investigation Agency into the incident.

In her petition, the victim’s mother raised the spectre of attempted forcible religious conversion of her daughter by the accused Rameez, 24, who had since been arrested and remanded in judicial custody, and his family. She alleged that her daughter was locked up by the accused and family in their house and was physically assaulted as she had mentioned in her suicide note.

She further accused the police of having invoked only light charges against the accused. The Kothamangalam police have booked the accused under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 69 (sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means etc) and 108 (abetment to suicide). He was also booked under BNS Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) on charges that he slapped her.

The police are investigating the potential involvement of more persons, especially a friend of Rameez who the victim had accused of having visited her home multiple times. The police are also trying to track down more witnesses and record their statements.

Though they were reports that parents of Rameez would be interrogated and arraigned in as accused for abetment to suicide, the police have not summoned them yet though they have not completely ruled out such a possibility during the course of the investigations. The police have also moved for the custody of Rameez for more detailed interrogation.

Meanwhile, the autopsy report confirmed the death by hanging and provided evidence to substantiate charges under Section 69 of the BNS invoked by the police. The police have ruled out the allegations of attempted forcible religious conversion and stated that it appeared to be a case of a failed love affair. The two had been batchmates during graduation at a college in Aluva and had decided to marry. However, Rameez reportedly backtracked and did not respond to her calls and messages of late. He also reportedly blocked her on WhatsApp.

The woman was found hanging in her house in Kothamangalam on Saturday (August 09, 2025). Initially, the Kothamangalam police registered a case for unnatural death. However, the police stumbled upon the note, reportedly written by the victim, during the preparation of mahassar on Sunday, following which additional charges were invoked.

(Those in distress or having suicidal tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling any of the following numbers: DISHA - 1056, 0471-2552056, State’s health helpline 104, Maithri - 0484-2540530, Thanal Suicide Prevention Centre – 0495-2760000.)