Kerala bus harassment row: Human Rights Commission orders police probe into youth's death

Kozhikode (Kerala): The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has ordered a police investigation into the death of a youth who was found hanging after a woman posted a video on social media alleging sexual harassment by him on a bus.

The Commission’s judicial member, K Byjunath, directed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, North Zone, to conduct a probe and submit a report within one week. The matter will be taken up for consideration at the Commission’s sitting in the district on February 19, according to an official statement.

The Commission initiated action based on complaints filed by advocates V Devadas and Abdu Rahim Pookkath.

According to the complaints, the youth became mentally distressed after the video was made public, which is believed to have led to his suicide.

Police identified the deceased as Deepak U (42), against whom the video alleging misbehaviour with a woman passenger on a bus had surfaced on social media. He was found hanging at his residence on Sunday.

Police said Deepak’s parents knocked on his bedroom door in the morning but received no response despite repeated attempts.

Relatives said Deepak was employed at a textile firm and had travelled to Kannur on Friday for work. On the same day, a woman passenger on the bus he was travelling in recorded a video accusing him of misbehaviour, which was later widely circulated on social media and came to his notice.

According to family members, Deepak denied the allegation and had been under severe mental stress since the video went viral.

The Medical College police have registered a case of unnatural death and begun an investigation.

PTI