r.i.pFormer Miss India and television anchor Nafisa Joseph, 25, committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan at her home in Mumbai, police said July 30, 2004. Joseph's mother told reporters the model ended her life after her wedding planned for next month was called off.
According to the Versova police, after a row with her fiancé Gautam Khanduja, Miss Nafisa took take the drastic step. The 25-year-old Joseph, a model, MTV video jockey, event hostess and animal rights activist, was found dead in her suburban Versova home late on Thursday.
Initial investigations appear to indicate that Nafisa may have felt jilted in love as she intended to marry Khanduja on August 7 this year. While no one seems to know why Gautam broke off the engagement some two days back,
Well-wishers in the fashion world were shocked to learn of the news. Described as a happy-go-lucky person and it is difficult to comprehend why she would do something like this, say friends of Nafisa.
According to the report Gautam who was already married he first met Nafisa at a nightclub a year ago, and it would appear the two had an altercation regarding his divorce papers, which led to Nafisa getting upset and this may have caused her to take the drastic step.
Friends of fiancé Gautam are at a loss as to why his relationship with Nafisa broke down, describing him as a quiet and cultured man.
Nafisa's family live in Bangalore, her father arrived in Mumbai on Thursday night, Deputy Commissioner of Police Amitabh Gupta said the family had told police it was "a case of suicide". Versova police have registered a case under Section 174 (accidental death) of the Criminal Procedure Code. However, police are exploring all angles. "It is too early to comment any further."
Nafisa has been cremated according to Hindu rites at the Andheri Crematorium in Mumbai. According to those present, her funeral was attended by a large number of Mumbai stars and models. Gautam Khanduja, Nafisa's fiancé has reportedly gone to his Panvel farmhouse to escape media attention.
before:
she supported PETA all the way
The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has condoled the death of the model and VJ, Nafisa Joseph.
"She will missed by everyone at PETA because she was one of the first stars to shine for our efforts in India," the organisation representatives said in a press release.
According to PETA India chief functionary, Anuradha Sawhney, "Nafisa loved children and hosted Compassionate Citizen, a humane education programme for schools, encouraging children to respect and be kind to all animals. Her efforts will live on with this programme which continues to benefit children across the country."
She was known for setting an example by wearing only animal-friendly fabrics and never leather clothes or shoes. She also took care to choose shampoos and cosmetics that had not been tested on animals, she said.
Whenever she saw an animal in distress, Nafisa Joseph would call up the PETA office asking for help. She has many times shown her compassion for stray dogs and other animals used for begging on the roads, Ms. Sawhney added.
after- her cremation
