Suicide of elderly auto driver over police harassemnt sparks outrage in Kerala’s Kasaragod : Valley Vision

On October 7, Yakoob Abdul Sathar, an auto-rickshaw driver and father of three, took his life after posting a distressing Facebook live video in which he blamed local police officers in Kerala’s Kasaragod for harassment. His vehicle was illegally impounded by police over a petty offence, refusing to release it despite several appeals.

Sathar’s emotional final video detailed the harassment he faced at the hands of the Kasargod Town Sub Inspector (SI) Anoop and other police officials. He said that the police were torturing him, adding that he was a heart patient and did not even have enough money to make both ends meet. The situation had put him out of any earnings, taking a toll on the person who lived on daily income.

His tragic death has not only devastated his family but also intensified public outrage against the Kerala Police, which has already been under fire for community biases and abuse of power. The Kerala Home Ministry is already under fire over growing concerns over the “saffronisation” of the police force and the undue influence of RSS within it.

Despite the suspension of SI Anoop on October 11, days after the incident, new videos of the officer’s misconduct have surfaced, showing him engaging in abusive behaviour and conducting searches without adhering to proper protocols. The emerging evidence has further fueled anger, with the public demanding deeper scrutiny of the police force’s actions in Kasaragod.

Sathar, a native of Mangaluru in Karnataka, lived a life of struggle, trying to provide for his family of five, including his wife and three children, Sana Parveen, Sheik Abdul Shaniz, and Shamna Sheik. 

Despite residing in a rented house in Mangaluru, he spent most of his time working in Kasaragod, where he rented a small space. Each week, he travelled 55 kilometres to visit his family, returning to work tirelessly to pay off the loans he had taken to purchase his autorickshaw. Sathar’s son, Shaikh Abdul Shaniz, recalled the intense pressure his father was under.

“My father was a good person, a good believer. Suicide was never something he would consider. But the harassment from SI Anoop and other police officers, and the seizure of our only means of livelihood, must have pushed him to the edge,” Shaniz shared with Maktoob.

“But now, everything has changed. The officer responsible has been suspended, but that is not enough. He should be dismissed from the force. I want to take legal action, but we don’t have the resources for that. Now I have to take care of my family, just like my father did. He loved us more than anything.” Shaniz added.

The catalyst for Sathar’s distress was a seemingly minor traffic incident that could have been resolved with a petty fine. In his final Facebook live video, he recounted how his autorickshaw was confiscated by the police on October 3 for allegedly taking the wrong lane. 

“I was trying to pass through a road when a Home Guard told me I couldn’t go that way. I couldn’t reverse or move forward. Then, a Sub Inspector came and took my keys. Even when people on the road tried to intervene, they took my auto to the police station,” Sathar explained.

When he later visited the police station to retrieve his vehicle, things took a darker turn. 

“They told me I was under arrest and that two people had to come to bail me out,” he said. But Sathar was isolated in Kasaragod. His family was miles away in Mangaluru, and the autorickshaw, still registered in a friend’s name, was his sole livelihood.

Sathar’s heartbreaking account, along with his deteriorating health and financial struggles, ultimately led him to take his own life just hours after the video went live.

Activists slam police abuses

Sathar’s death has sparked widespread grief and anger in Kasaragod. On the day of his death, auto-rickshaw drivers across the town halted work for three hours in protest, while the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) organized demonstrations demanding justice for Sathar. 

Kallatra Mayin, the district president of the IUML, criticized the LDF government for failing to act sooner.

“This shows that the Kerala Home Ministry has no control over the police. Even their own MLA has started speaking out about it. If left-wing organisations won’t stand up for their members like Sathar, how can the public trust them?” Mayin remarked to Maktoob.

Sathar was an active member of the CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions), affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist). His Facebook profile was filled with posters supporting the LDF. However, when Maktoob reached out to CITU Kerala state secretary and CPI(M) politburo member Elamaram Kareem for comment, he refused to address the issue, dismissing it as a “local matter.”

In response to the growing public outcry, Kasargod District Police Chief Shilpa Dyavaiah transferred SI Anoop to the Chandera police station shortly after Sathar’s death. However, the suspension of Anoop on October 11 only came after more footage emerged of his abusive conduct, not just toward Sathar but toward other auto rickshaw drivers as well.

PV Anwar, an independent MLA ousted from Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) last month over his explosive allegations against the state’s police, framed the incident as proof of his allegations. He pointed out a disturbing trend in police transfers, accusing the authorities of systematically relocating officers with poor track records to Kasaragod and Malappuram, districts with a significant Muslim population.

“Kasaragod and Malappuram districts have become dumping grounds for the worst police officers,” Anwar alleged. 

“People here are enduring all kinds of atrocities from these officers, with no alternative. Our elected representatives have abandoned us. People are fed up with the administration, and while they discuss these issues privately, they’re too intimidated by the police and politicians to protest publicly. How many murders have occurred in Kasargod over the past decade? How many have been properly investigated? What has become of the Riyas Moulavi murder case?” Anwar told the media after visiting the Sathar’s family.

It has since been revealed that Sathar had attempted to seek help from higher authorities, including the Superintendent of Police in Kasargod. He was reportedly told to meet the Deputy Superintendent of Police, who had promised to review the CCTV footage of the incident but never followed through.

“My father approached several other officers, including senior officials, but none showed him any compassion. They just passed him around like a football. They’re all the same.” Shaniz added.