Nellai family suicide: Madras High Court seeks chief secretary response

Madurai: The Madurai bench of the Madras High court on Monday directed Ms. Girija Vaidyanathan, chief secretary, Tamil Nadu Government to file counter on a petition seeking action against police and government officials who were on duty when four members of a family committed suicide by setting ablaze in inside the Tirunelveli Collectorate on October 23 in protest against usury practice.

D Senthil Kumar, vice-president, BJP, Tirunelveli district in the petition filed before a division bench comprising Justices M Venugopal and Abdul Quddhose stating that the deceased Essakimuthu from Kasitharman village had set fire to his wife and two children before setting himself ablaze in the presence of police officials from Palayamkottai police station, who were deployed for security duty for the grievances day in the Collectorate.

The police also alleged that the Achanpudur police and the district collector Sandeep Nanduri failed to taken action against usurers, for collecting exorbitant interest despite Essakimuthu having repeatedly filed petitions to them.

Though Senthil Kumar filed representation to the Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu government and IG, south zone on October 24, demanding action against the collector and other police and government officials in this regard, so far he had not receive any response. Hence he approached the court.

The petitioner also requested the court to direct the authorities to collect the salaries of these officials and pay it to the relatives of the deceased. After examining the petition, the court also asked Mr. Shaliesh Kumar Yadav, IG, South Zone, to file a counter by December 6.