National tribal commission chief Nand Kumar Sai visits Madhu's home

Palakkad: Nand Kumar Sai, chairman of  the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes,  visited the house of  lynched tribal youth Madhu at the Chindakki  tribal settlement in Attappadi  on Tuesday. Mr Sai, who held talks with  Madhu's mother Mallika and sister Chandrika for half an hour, told  reporters   that  the family members had told him about the alleged role of forest department officials in the attack on  Madhu,30, by a mob   on Thursdayafternoon.

"I have asked the forest department officials and Palakkad S.P. Prateesh Kumar to inquire into the matter. It is condemnable that the forest officials did not act while the mentally ill man was tied up and thrashed," he said. He also expressed concern over the condition of the road leading to Chindakki from Mukkali junction.

The road is under the forest department and no maintenance work has been done there  for the past several years due to a legal issue with the contractor. He also held a meeting with the top officials in the district administration at the collectorate here and urged the official of the local bodies to be more pro-active and do more for the welfare of the tribals in Attappadi.