A Dalit hygiene worker, traumatized by caste abuse, allegdly commited suicide by drinking poison. The police are looking for one Ayesha, the former panchayat president, in connection with his death.
Health and hygiene workers in Udangudi town panchayat escalated their protests on Thursday (23 March 2023) in response to the death of a coworker, Sudalaimadan (56), who attempted suicide. The family refused to accept the body, demanding that former panchayat president Ayesha Kallasi, incumbent Hemera, and panchayat executive officer Babu be arrested immediately.
Sudalimadan hails from Udankudi Puthukaalani near Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi District. He has been a hygiene worker in Udankudi Municipality for 30 years and a hygiene supervisor for the last few years. According to reports, the victim Sudalaimadan urged panchayat president Hemera Ramez Fathima to promote him to the position of a permanent supervisor based on seniority.
Ayesha Kallasi, the panchayat president’s mother-in-law and former panchayat president, is said to have demanded a bribe of ₹3 lakhs from Sudalimadan in order to make the job permanent. However, he refused to pay the bribe.
Enraged, Ayesha used caste slurs to insult Sudalimadan and refused to make the job permanent. It is also said that Sudalimadan was forced to clean the drainage. Saddened by this treatment of Ayesha and Hemera, Sudalimadan attempted suicide by drinking pesticide on the 17th of this month. Sudalaimadan was rescued by his relatives and taken to Tiruchendur Government Hospital. He was given first aid and then shifted to Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital for further treatment. However, his condition has deteriorated in the last week.
Despite the fact that an FIR was filed against the two, they have not yet been arrested. The conservancy worker died in the early hours of Thursday at Thoothukudi Medical College Hospital after failing to respond to treatment. The family members criticized the police for failing to arrest the two suspects despite them being booked under sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. They also urged the district police to invoke sections related to murder in the FIR and include president Hemera in the case. They also requested that Sudalaimadan’s daughter, Uma Maheswari, be given a job as a nurse.
(With inputs from Mediyaan)
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