Thiruvananthapuram: In three different cases in Kerala during the week, two women lost their lives and a third was seriously injured after their boyfriends attacked them, raising more concerns about women’s security. All incidents were related to the girls deciding to walk out on their relationships.
Ironically, these incidents come just a week after thousands of women across the state had held a ‘night walk’ to proclaim that public places belong to women as well, any time of the day or night.
In the latest of the three incidents, the body of a girl from Kochi, identified as Eva, was found from a tea estate in neighbouring Tamil Nadu state on Wednesday. Eva was allegedly killed and her body dumped there by her boyfriend, identified as Zafar.
Kerala police had received a complaint from the girl’s family about her disappearance. On investigation, it was found that she had gone in a car with Zafar and they were travelling towards Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu police were informed, but they found only Zafar in the car.
However, blood stains in the car raised suspicion and on questioning Zafar reportedly admitted to the crime. The body was riddled with stab wounds. Zafar reportedly told police he had taken revenge on Eva after she decided to discontinue their relationship.
On Monday, 19-year-old Ashika Ajith was killed by her boyfriend Anu Manian, 24, after the girl spurned his advances after initially becoming friends through social media. The incident was reported from Vellarada in Thiruvananthapuram. Six months ago, the girl’s parents had lodged a police complaint against the youth, and he had been summoned by police and warned.
On Monday, when Ashika’s parents had been out on work, Anu Manian barged into their house, got into Ashika’s room and bolted the door. Ashika’s grandparents were in the house and they heard her screams but could not break open the door. When local residents came and broke into the room, Ashika was found dead with her throat slashed, and Anu Manian committed suicide by slashing his own neck.
In a third incident, a 17-year-old girl in Kakkanad, Kochi, who was working as a part-time employee at a day-care centre, was knifed on Monday by her boyfriend who followed her on a bike while she was going to work. She had been keeping a distance from him after her family expressed displeasure about their relationship.
The girl has been admitted to the Kalamassery Medical College with serious injuries and has not recovered consciousness. Police are on the hunt for the attacker.
In the backdrop of increasing incidents of young men turning to murderous attacks on women when their love is spurned, well-known psychologist Dr CJ John wrote in a newspaper column that men ought to learn to take ‘No’ for an answer and be able to carry on with life if their girlfriends decide not to proceed with the relationship.
