Malappuram rage crime: Father allegedly kills daughter for “supporting” mom

Shalu had completed her Class 12 and was preparing for higher studies.
Malappuram rage crime: Father allegedly kills daughter for “supporting” mom
Malappuram rage crime: Father allegedly kills daughter for “supporting” mom
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An 18-year-old girl was strangulated allegedly by her father at Thenjippalam in Malappuram.

The deceased, identified as Shalu, had completed her Class 12 and was preparing for higher studies. Her father Shashi, a daily wage labourer, was arrested and sent to judicial custody on charges of carrying out the crime.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the reason for the crime was Shalu’s support to her mother, whom Shashi had fought with days ago. Shashi (46) had picked an argument with Shalu over the fight he had with his wife, which ended in the crime.

“As per the prima facie investigation, he committed the crime in rage as she supported her mother. Shashi and his wife Shylaja had fought days before, following which Shylaja left home. During the argument the daughter supported her mother which made him angry. At the time of the crime, Shashi and his daughter were alone at home. He was arrested and remanded to judicial custody,” police said.

“There are no witnesses to the crime as it happened inside the house and in the night,” they added.

There are unconfirmed reports that Shashi had tried to kill himself after the crime but failed.

Shalu has a brother who is housed at a boarding school and pursuing studies from there. “Shashi, who hails from Thiruvananthapuram, had settled in Malappuram 20 years ago after he married Shylaja. He is a half-Tamilian,” police said.

Role of forums like Childline

In such situations, where a crime involving a child has already taken place, what is the role of forums like Childline? According to experts, the role of social intervention by forums like Childline when a crime has already occurred is limited.

Former Kerala Childline Forum convener and former director of Thiruvananthapuram Childline Father Philip Parakkat told TNM that the scope of intervention in such crimes is to ensure the safety and mental health of other children, if any, at the place where the crime happened.

“When a crime has already happened, the prime responsibility, of course, is police intervention to ensure that the accused is booked. But if the affected child has siblings at home or if there are any other children at the place from where the crime is reported, workers from Childline or similar forums can interfere to ensure that the mental health of the sibling(s) is not affected and their safety is taken care of,” he said.

“Childline or others can also enquire about the whereabouts of the family, to shift the other children, if any, from the home to safe places if needed, in association with other departments concerned. It should be ensured that the other children have a support system and should not be scared,” Fr. Philip added.

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