Thrissur suicide case: Money lender mafia under lens

Thrissur: The police are investigating the role of the money lender mafia in the death of a chit fund owner, his wife and two children at Kadangode near Erumapetty here on Monday. Kottiliparambil Suresh Kumar, 37, had committed suicide after throwing his wife Dhanya, 33, daughters Vaiga, 8, Vaishanvi, 8, and Vaishaki, 6, into the well as he had fallen into a debt trap. Vaishanvi, one of the twins, was rescued by the neighbours who heard her crying in the well where she was clinging on to the rope attached to the motor pump. She is presently staying with K. Manikandan, elder brother of Kumar.

Neighbours and relatives of the deceased and local CPI leader O.K. Sasi had alleged that the district cooperative bank officials and the money lender and land mafia were responsible for the family's tragic end. The police will collect the statement of Manikandan soon about the allegations. Kunnamkulam CI Rajesh K. Menon told DC that no action could be initiated against the co-operative bank officials as they had only done their duty by visiting the house of the deceased and telling him about putting up notices for the attachment of his property.

"But the allegation against the local land brokers who prevented Kumar from selling his property worth Rs 1 crore for Rs 80 lakh will be investigated. The maximum price fixed by the land brokers was Rs 42 lakh, by which Kumar could not have settled his liabilities," he said. Meanwhile, the local people have not filed any complaints with the police about the bank officials and the alleged land mafia.