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Malappuram, Kerala – In a tragic incident that has sparked widespread outrage and debate, a 34-year-old woman, Asma, died during childbirth at home in Malappuram district, Kerala. Her husband, Sirajudheen, a self-styled cleric and YouTuber, has been arrested on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The arrest followed the postmortem report, which revealed that Asma succumbed to postpartum hemorrhage (severe bleeding after delivery). According to police, she was left unattended for three hours during the critical period. This was Asma’s fifth delivery, three of which had taken place at home under similar circumstances.
Sirajudheen runs a YouTube channel named Madavoor Qafila, which features religious content and has nearly 65,000 subscribers. Police charged him under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 238 (destroying evidence) of the Indian Penal Code. Authorities allege that after Asma’s death on Saturday night, Sirajudheen attempted to bury her body in her native village of Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district without informing authorities. Relatives intervened, leading to police involvement.
Health Minister and Officials Condemn Incident
Kerala Health Minister Veena George strongly condemned the incident, describing it as tantamount to murder. She highlighted Kerala’s low maternal and infant mortality rates but expressed concern over emerging “unhealthy tendencies” in society advocating against institutional deliveries. “This issue is very serious,” she said, adding that the health department has been actively campaigning against home births.
The incident has also drawn attention to a viral video showing an event in Malappuram where women who had undergone home births were celebrated on stage with their babies. The women were seen wearing graduation caps and sharing experiences promoting home deliveries. Malappuram District Medical Officer Dr. R Renuka stated that authorities have taken note of the video and handed it over to the police for further investigation.
Rising Concerns Over Home Births in Kerala
According to health department data, Kerala reported 523 home births in 2023, with Malappuram district accounting for nearly half (253 cases). Although no religious organizations have been directly linked to promoting home births, officials believe certain individuals misuse religious symbols to advocate against institutional deliveries.
The tragic death of Asma has reignited discussions about the risks associated with unassisted home births and the need for stricter enforcement of healthcare policies in the state.
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**Disclaimer:** This article is based on publicly available information from credible sources at the time of publication. It is intended solely for informational purposes and does not aim to assign guilt or responsibility beyond what has been reported by authorities.
Citations:
[1] https://indianexpress.com/article/india/youtuber-husband-arrested-for-culpable-homicide-after-wife-dies-during-childbirth-at-home-in-kerala-9930865/
