Wayanad youth commit suicide fearing POCSO case; He sends the last video from his heart to his sister

Panamaram (Wayanad): Fearing that the police had filed a POCSO case against him for interacting with a girl, a young man committed suicide by jumping into a river on Saturday. Deceased Rathin (24) was an auto driver from Mankani hamlet in Anjukunnu.

In a video he sent to his sister before he disappeared, Rathin claimed that the police had filed a case against him under POCSO for talking to a girl on the roadside.

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“Even if I prove that I am innocent in this situation, people will see it this way. It is better to die than to live. Take care of our mother. Let her body be buried in front of the house so that I can live too. See our home forever,” Rathin said in the video.

Rathin went missing around 5 pm on Saturday and his autorickshaw was found near Cheriyamkolly River in Wayanad. Rescue team members retrieved his body from the river around 11 a.m. on Sunday.

No POCSO case against him: Police

Wayanad district police chief Taposh Basumatari confirmed that no POCSO case was registered against Rathin and announced a departmental inquiry into the incident.

According to police, Rathin was cautioned after he was seen interacting with an underage girl. The authorities clarified that they had only informed him about the possible consequences under the POCSO Act and warned him not to repeat the incident. However, Kambalakkad Police later registered a case against him for causing public nuisance in a public place at 11.30 pm on Saturday.

(Caution: Suicide is not a solution to any problem. Those struggling with mental health issues should seek help from professionals. ‘Disha’ helpline provides free counseling and support. Call the toll-free helpline: 1056 or 0471-2552056)