Day after Kerala woman's murder 'confession', husband turns up alive

A woman from Kerala's Pathanamthitta district alleged that she was tortured by police to "confess" that she had murdered her husband. The husband, who had been missing since 2021, was found at a farm 130 kilometres away from home. 

                     Day after Kerala woman's murder 'confession', husband turns up alive

A couple’s fight from 2021 has led to a topsy-turvy case in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district where the wife confessed to her husband’s “murder”, only for him to be found alive the day after her arrest. After he was found alive, the wife said she was tortured by the police while she was in custody to confess to his “murder”.

Afsana, the wife, was arrested on July 27 after she “confessed” that she had killed her husband Noushad, who had been missing since November 2021. A day later, Noushad was found living in a farm located around 130 kilometres away from their home and Afsana was released on bail.

CASE DETAILS

Noushad went missing in November 2021 after he had a fight with Afsana. She informed the police about his disappearance, but assumed that he died after her friends attacked him. Police said she was in the habit of alerting them that she had found a person who looked like Noushad around Pathanamthitta.

In the latest of such alerts, Afsana told the police that she saw someone who looked like Noushad in Adoor town. Police said they found she was giving contradictory statements. During her questioning, Afsana “confessed” to the police that Noushad went missing the day after her friends attacked him, so she assumed they had buried his body, an officer told The Indian Express.

Afsana was arrested on July 27 on charges related to furnishing false information and causing disappearance of evidence of an offence, among others. She did not face murder charges as Noushad’s body was not found.

The next day, when pictures of Afsana and Noushad were put in the local papers, a trader in Idukki identified him as a man who worked at a farm in Thommankuthu village. The said man was later confirmed to be Noushad.

Noushad told a local TV channel that he had an argument with Afsana on November 5, 2021. Afterwards, she left the house and around 10 to 20 men barged inside the house and attacked him. He said he ran away from home the next day. “When I heard reports that I was killed and buried, I was shocked. I just want to see my (two) children now,” he was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Afsana was released on bail on July 30. After getting released, she alleged that she only “confessed” to the murder because she was tortured at Koodal police station. She said the police there beat her and used pepper spray on her mouth.

“They starved me for two days without food and water and threatened to make my father an accused in the case. When they said that they will not let me see my two children, I did what they said. They were abusive and tortured me to say that I killed Noushad and buried him,” Afsana was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Police have rejected the allegations of torture and said a detailed inquiry will prove that Afsana’s statements are false. T Rajappan, deputy superintendent of police, Konni, said the authorities have CCTV footage of Afsana’s statements and witnesses as well.