Girl's suicide note mentioning pressure to convert sparks 'love jihad' campaign in Kerala

Sona Eldose, who was found hanging in her house and a note, believed to be written by her, stated that torture she suffered from her lover Rameez and his family members was forcing her to take the extreme step.

Thiruvananthapuram: The death of a 23-year-old girl in Kerala, suspectedly by suicide owing to torture by her lover compelling to convert, has triggered 'love jihad' allegations.

Sona Eldose, 23, hailing from Kothamangalam on the suburbs of Kochi, was found hanging in her house on Saturday.

A note, believed to be written by her, stated that physical and mental torture she suffered from her lover Rameez and his family members was forcing her to take the extreme step.

The Kothamangalam police arrested Rameez on charges of suicide abetment, cheating and mental and physical torture. His family members are also likely to be arraigned.

Following the incident, BJP and Sangh Parivar activists have unleashed a campaign that it was a case of 'love jihad'. Social media posts stating that Kerala was witnessing back to back instances of 'love jihad' were also being widely shared by vested interest groups.

Sona, who was a teachers' training course student, was in a relationship with Rameez over the last many years. But he and his family were insisting that she should convert to Islam.

Sona's mother Bindhu told the media that Sona was very much sincere in her relationship with Rameez and hence she agreed to the marriage even after Rameez was involved in an immoral trafficking allegation.

Rameez allegedly took Sona to his house by promising to marry her. But later she was coerced by Rameez, his parents and siblings to convert to Islam. 

In the suspected suicide note also in was stated that Rameez's family forced for conversion and tortured her by locking up. 

Ernakulam-rural district police chief M Hemalatha said that the allegation of coercing to convert was being examined. If there is sufficient evidence relevant sections will be invoked. 

She also told DH that the social media campaigns that it was a case of 'love jihad' was also being monitored by the police.