A woman from Lakshadweep, Abida, has approached the Kerala High Court requesting a thorough investigation into the mysterious disappearance of her husband, Abdul Rahman, from police custody. Rahman, who was taken in by the police on October 9, 2024, in connection with a domestic dispute, was later reported missing under suspicious circumstances.
According to Abida’s petition, Rahman was arrested following a matrimonial issue, but when she visited the Chetlat police station the following day, she was told by police officials that her husband had been transferred to a hospital due to his unstable condition. However, upon arriving at the hospital, Abida and her relatives were unable to locate Rahman. On October 11, police informed her that her husband had jumped into the sea while in custody and was now missing.
Abida has strongly disputed this claim, alleging that her husband was ill-treated while in custody and asserting that the story of him jumping into the sea was fabricated. She emphasized that Rahman, a skilled diver, was highly capable of swimming in deep-sea conditions, making it improbable that he would have drowned in the lagoon area of Chetlat Island.
In her plea, Abida has requested that the court direct the Lakshadweep authorities to form a special investigation team to conduct a comprehensive probe into the disappearance. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas has taken note of the petition and sought responses from the Lakshadweep administration and police, scheduling a hearing for November 26, 2024.
This case has raised serious concerns over the treatment of detainees in Lakshadweep and has drawn attention to the need for accountability and transparency in law enforcement practices.
