'No financial dealings with Rasina, met through Instagram'; Male friend denies family's allegations

KANNUR: The male friend of Rasina, the 40-year-old woman who committed suicide in Kayalode in Kannur, denied allegations raised by the latter's family. The male friend who appeared before police on Saturday denied having any financial dealings with 40-year-old Rasina, who committed suicide following a purported mob trial. As per reports, the male friend met Rasina through Instagram. He voluntarily appeared before the Pinarayi police on Saturday to give a statement.

Police in their initial investigation found that the women committed suicide in agony over getting humiliated by a mob in Kannur. Taking note of the development, the statement from Rasina’s male friend will be crucial in the case. SDPI activists VC Mubashir, KA Faisal, and VK Rafnaz were arrested in the incident. The police have also charged them with abetment to suicide.

Rasina was found dead last Tuesday. The police also found a suicide note in her room. The three people mentioned in the suicide note were arrested during the investigation. On Sunday, at around 3 pm, a mob, including the accused, questioned Rasina for talking with her male friend near Achankara church in Kayalode. After sending Rasina home, the mob took her male friend to a nearby ground and physically assaulted him.

The group detained the youth for five hours, seized his mobile phone and tablet, and brought him to the SDPI office at 8:30 pm. The relatives of Rasina and the youth were called to the office. The youth was then released with his relatives late at night. The police recovered the youth's mobile phone and tablet from the accused.

Earlier, in a big turn of events, Rasina’s mother, Fatima, blamed the male friend for duping her daughter of money and asked police not to file any case against the SDPI activists.