When Dilshad went to the Aluva police station with his daughter Mofiya Parveen on November 22, he expected the police would help Mofiya, who was facing dowry harassment. Instead, what he faced at the station was mockery from a policeman. “Circle Inspector Sudheer first called my daughter inside, later I was asked to join. He asked me what kind of a father I was and why we didn’t give dowry,” Dilshad told TNM. However, that was not all.
Though Mofiya, a law student, had gone to the station to give her statement, the policeman had also summoned her husband Suhail and his family. A discussion in their presence dejected Mofiya further. A few hours after this meeting, Mofiya died by suicide at her home.
“She asked him (the CI) why he called her husband and his parents to the station,” Dilshad said. Sudheer did lodge the complaint and named Suhail as an accused, but only after Mofiya’s death. And Sudheer was suspended only after much furore and protests by the Congress in Kerala.
In this chat with TNM’s Dhanya Rajendran, Dilshad also revealed that his daughter and husband had met a counsellor and also met people in the local mosque. Though the counsellor and mosque officials told Mofiya to separate from her husband, she did not want to. “She really loved him. But when he sent a triple talaq, she understood that the marriage was all about the money,” Dilshad revealed.
Watch this conversation where Dilshad spoke about the dowry demands, Suhail’s lies and what exactly transpired at the police station.
If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.
Tamil Nadu
State health department's suicide helpline: 104
Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in Tamil Nadu)
Andhra Pradesh
Life Suicide Prevention: 78930 78930
Roshni: 9166202000, 9127848584
Karnataka
Sahai (24-hour): 080 65000111, 080 65000222
Kerala
Maithri: 0484 2540530
Chaithram: 0484 2361161
Both are 24-hour helpline numbers.
Telangana
State government's suicide prevention (tollfree): 104
Roshni: 040 66202000, 6620200
SEVA: 09441778290, 040 27504682 (between 9 am and 7 pm)
Aasara offers support to individuals and families during an emotional crisis, for those dealing with mental health issues and suicidal ideation, and to those undergoing trauma after the suicide of a loved one.
24x7 Helpline: 9820466726
Click here for working helplines across India.