Solution to stalking must go beyond policing, say experts

The alleged killing of a medical student at Kothamangalam in Ernakulam by a youngster, despite his promise to police not to stalk her, bares the glaring absence of effective mental health interventions

The gunning down of a 24-year-old medical student at Nellikuzhi near Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district of Kerala by a man she had met over Instagram a year ago points to the need for intervention beyond that of the police, who predominantly looks at such instances from the angle of law and order. That the 32-year-old Rakhil’s promise to the police not to stalk her any longer over a month before he shot her dead draws attention to the glaring absence of a professional mental health intervention in between. “There seems to be a trend to settle such things at a police station as if police personnel are best equipped to address them. As commendable are their increasing basket of social services, the police are not ideal to address multifactorial problems like pathological dependence possibly arising from personality disorders or familial circumstances. It is possible that in this case, someone had intimate knowledge about the over-dependence and possessive behaviour of the accused and should have roped in his dear and near ones to arrange for professional corrective interventions,” said psychiatrist C.J. John.