A 42-year-old man, Deepak died by suicide on Sunday after a woman posted a video on social media accusing him of sexually harassing her on a bus. The man was identified as a native of Govindapuram in Kozhikode.
He found hanging at his home early in the morning. According to police, his parents were there at the time. When he not respond to repeated calls, neighbours alerted, and they forced the door open, discovering him dead.
Women abuse Kozhikode Man, dies by suicide over sexual harassment
The incident came to light when a woman shared a video claiming the man had deliberately touched her inappropriately while travelling on a crowded bus. The video recorded during a journey from Payyannur railway station to the bus stand, went viral and received over 2 million views, sparking widespread online reactions.
Relatives and friends said he was under mental stress after the video went viral. He was deeply affected by the accusations. His family has claimed that he was a victim of character assassination through social media and argued that the video made for online publicity. They insisted he generally avoided controversies.
Video of sexual abuse gone viral
Relatives also said that the man faced severe online abuse after video’s circulation. At the same time, the woman who posted the video reportedly experienced cyber attacks.
Police confirmed that the alleged incident occurred in Payyannur. The Kozhikode Medical College police have opened a case of unnatural death and started an investigation. They will take further legal steps after reviewing all factors, including the conditions surrounding the death and the viral social media content.
The man worked as a sales manager at a textile store in Kozhikode and travelled often for work. Family members noted that he travelled to Kannur last Friday, right before the video appeared online. Police stated that the investigation is ongoing.
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