Keralite woman released by Maldives reaches home

Thiruvananthapuram: Keralite woman Rubeena Burhanuddin, who was freed by Maldivian authorities after being imprisoned for around four years on charges of murder and attempted suicide, reached her home near here Monday.

Kerala Social Welfare Minister M K Muneer was among those who received 24-year-old Rubeena at the international airport here when she arrived by a flight from Maldives.

Putting an end to her suffering, Rubeena, a resident of Odayam at Varkala near here was released after the issue was taken up by Muneer with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, an official release said.

Her release was a combined effort of the External Affairs Ministry, Social Justice Department here and Indian High Commission in Maldives and also following a powerful online campaign, Muneer said.

Rubeena was imprisoned at a detention centre in Maldives on charges of killing her 10-month-old son in June, 2010 and also for attempting to commit suicide.

She had married a Maldivian national Hassan Jabir under 'Malikalyanam', a marriage of convenience through which poor girls are married in lieu of money. He divorced her while in detention.

Rubeena contended that charges were levelled against her by Jabir as a ploy to marry again.

Her release became a reality after Prosecutor-General in Maldives recently decided not to go ahead with the charges, the release said.