Vendor’s death puts CPI(M) on the defensive

Relatives paying last respects to Sabu Thomas in Kattappana on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A day after a vendor was found dead on the premises of a cooperative society controlled by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) at Kattappana in Idukki, the local leadership of the party was put on the defensive after an audio clip of questionable provenance purportedly of former CPI(M) Kattappana area secretary V.R. Saji threatening the vendor on Thursday evening emerged in public domain.

Sabu Thomas, 50, was found dead hanging on the premises of the CPI(M)-controlled Kattappana Rural Cooperative Society on Friday morning.

His wife, Marykutty, on Saturday told mediapersons that Sabu tried to withdraw money on Thursday to meet expenses of her surgery. “My husband had approached the bank to pay the expenses of a surgery at a hospital at Muthalakodam. On Thursday evening, he told me about the threat from Mr. Saji. He also said we will not be getting the money and that we have fallen into a trap,” Ms. Marykutty said.

She said her husband had deposited his entire savings in the bank. “He approached the bank to withdraw ₹2 lakh for my surgery last week. But bank officials gave him only ₹80,000 in two instalments. He still has ₹14 lakh in his account,” she said. She blamed mental harassment by the bank staff and Mr. Saji for her husband’s death.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) Kattappana area secretary Mathew George said the party would stand with Sabu’s family. “Cooperation Minister V.N. Vasavan has announced a probe into the incident. The party plans to investigate all aspects of the incident. A police probe is on,” he said.

Party district secretary C.V. Varghese said the party had sought an explanation from Mr. Saji about the incident. “Some of his statements should have been avoided. The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party are trying to attack the party over the phone conversation,” he said.

United Democratic Front (UDF) district chairman Joy Vettikuzhi said the government should ensure a fair probe into the incident.

Idukki District Police Chief T.K. Vishnu Pradeep said a nine-member special team would investigate the death of Sabu.

Following post-mortem examination, Sabu’s funeral was held at Kattappana St. George Church on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan blamed the government for its failure to address the crisis in the cooperative sector. He said the death of Sabu was a wake-up call for the government to initiate urgent remedial measures.

He accused the government of using brute force to wrest control of cooperative institutions ruled by the United Democratic Front.