Woman Allegedly Driven to Death Over Forced Conversion for Marriage!
Kerala woman’s suicide sparks probe into forced religious conversion claims.
A 23-year-old Teachers’ Training Course student, Sona Eldose, was found hanging at her residence in Kothamangalam, Ernakulam district, Kerala, prompting a police investigation into allegations of coercion and harassment. The Kerala Police initially registered the case as an unnatural death but escalated their probe after recovering a purported suicide note in which Sona accused her boyfriend, Rameez, along with his family and friends, of subjecting her to physical assault and mental harassment to force her to convert to Islam for marriage.
Sona’s mother, Bindhu, a housemaid, alleged in a television interview that Rameez’s family had proposed marriage but insisted Sona convert to their religion. According to Bindhu, Sona initially agreed to the marriage out of love, despite Rameez’s alleged involvement in an immoral trafficking case. However, Sona later refused to convert, a decision that reportedly led to intensified pressure. Bindhu claimed Rameez confined Sona in a room at his house, where she was beaten and threatened to comply with the conversion demand. Sona’s brother, Basil, corroborated these claims, stating that his sister faced ongoing coercion and physical abuse.
The police have taken Rameez into custody and are investigating charges of abetment of suicide, assault, and related offenses under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Authorities are verifying the allegations of forced conversion, with Rameez’s formal arrest expected soon. The case has drawn significant attention due to its sensitive nature, particularly in light of Sona’s recent loss of her father, which may have compounded her emotional distress.
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The investigation is ongoing, with police examining the authenticity of the suicide note and interviewing witnesses to establish the circumstances leading to Sona’s death. The case has sparked public outrage and renewed discussions about coercive practices in interfaith relationships, with calls for stringent action if the allegations are substantiated.
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