The wife of a vendor in Idukki who was found hanging on Friday after a CPI(M)-controlled cooperative society denied the withdrawal of his deposit has demanded charges of abetting suicide against Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M) former area secretary V.R. Saji and three bank officials. Marykutty, wife of Sabu Thomas, alleged that he was threatened before his death.
Talking to media persons at Kattappana on Sunday, Marykutty alleged that former bank president and CPI(M) leader V.R. Saji, bank secretary Reji, and staffers Benoy and Sujamol were behind the suicide of her husband. Sabu Thomas (50), who was a vendor in Kattappana town, was found dead on the premises of a rural cooperative development society here on Friday.
“Sabu attempted to withdraw money from his account for the past one-and-a-half years, during which we have been subjected to mental harassment regarding deposits and withdrawals. The bank secretary and other officials consistently delayed our withdrawal requests. They left us to wait hours in front of the bank to withdraw our money. The bank tried to block our withdrawal requests on all occasions,” Marykutty alleged.
“The immediate provocation behind the suicide was the mental and physical attack by bank officials and a threat phone call by V.R. Saji,” Marykutty said. “After the threat, Sabu faced serious mental harassment.”
“Presently, we trust the present SIT probe. If the team fails to find the truth, we will demand a Crime Branch-level probe. The accused must be prosecuted,” she said.
Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine visited the family members of Sabu Thomas on Sunday. After the visit, Mr. Augustine said that the government will ensure a fair probe into the death of Sabu Thomas. “The special team will investigate all aspects of the incident,” Mr. Augustine stated. Meanwhile, Youth Congress workers waved black flags at Kattappana during the visit of Mr. Augustine.
Independent legislator P.V. Anvar visited the family of Sabu Thomas on Sunday. Mr. Anvar alleged that the death of Sabu Thomas indicates the present condition of cooperative banks in the State. “CPI(M) changed the cooperative banks and societies that are under the rule of goons. The Karuvannur bank-model scam occurred in various parts of the State,” said Mr. Anvar.
Idukki District Police Chief T.K. Vishnu Pradeep said that a nine-member special investigation team (SIT) headed by Kattappana Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rajesh Kumar will lead the probe of the vendor suicide incident. “The SIT will conduct a comprehensive inquiry covering all aspects. The team will probe threats made through phone calls,” Mr. Pradeep stated.
Published – December 22, 2024 10:22 pm IST