In a shocking incident, a worker working at a cashew factory owned by Cuddalore DMK MP T.R.V.S. Ramesh was found dead a few days ago with injuries marked all over his body.
The victim identified as Govindaraj was allegedly thrashed to death by the DMK MP and his men inside the MP’s office room in the factory.
Govindaraj hails from Melmaampattu near Panruti and has been working at the DMK MP’s cashew factory located near Panikankuppam. One version of the incident says that Govindaraj had stolen cashews from the factory and sold them outside. Another version notes that Govindaraj had been asking for a rise in his wages for a long time because of which the owner and his men got irked and thrashed him.
The incident reportedly happened on September 19 when DMK MP Ramesh visited the factory. He is said to have gone to his office room and had liquor. His men had apparently told him that Govindaraj was stealing cashews from the factory and selling it outside. Govindaraj was later called inside and was thrashed mercilessly by the inebriated DMK and his goons.
A grievously injured Govindaraj was later taken to the Kadampuliyur police station by the goons to register a case against him. The police upon seeing the condition of Govindaraj had told the DMK MP’s men to take him off to the hospital and not keep him in the station. The DMK MP’s vacated from there along with Govindaraja but never returned.
The next day Govindaraj’s son had come from Chennai to the police station to register a case against the DMK MP and his men for killing his father.
Instead of registering as a case of murder, the police has registered it as a case of ‘suspicious death’.
Govindaraj’s body was sent to the Government Hospital at Mundiyambakkam in Vizhupuram district on September 23, where doctors from Puducherry’s JIPMER performed postmortem.
Reportedly, the doctors had found his skull broken which damaged his brain and resulted in his death. There were injuries near the eyes and stomach with the bone near the ear also found to be broken. His injuries show that he was brutally lynched to death.
The incident came to light after PMK founder Dr. S. Ramadoss posted about it in his social media.
கடலூர் எம்.பி. ரமேஷுக்கு சொந்தமான முந்திரி ஆலையில் கோவிந்தராசு என்ற தொழிலாளி அடித்துக் கொல்லப்பட்டதாக குற்றச்சாட்டு எழுந்துள்ள நிலையில், கடலூர் எம்.பி உள்ளிட்ட 5 பேர் மற்றும் பிறர் மீது சந்தேக மரணம் என்ற பிரிவின் கீழ் வழக்குப் பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டிருக்கிறது!#JusticeForGovindaraj
— Dr S RAMADOSS (@drramadoss) September 20, 2021
The case has now been transferred to the CB-CID who are now investigating the incident.
The BJP has also extended support to get justice for Govindaraj.
BJP Tamil Nadu spokesperson Asuvathaman and state secretary of the party’s legal cell met the National Labour Commission and has demanded action against the DMK MP for allegedly murdering Govindaraj. He has also called for the CBI to take up the investigation.
Today, I have given the representation before 'National Labour Commission' with regard to the issue of #murder of a labour killed for 'asking wage hike', who was worked at Cashew Mill owned by DMK cuddolore MP Ramesh#PanrutiMurder#JusticeForGovindaraj @JPNadda @annamalai_k pic.twitter.com/Y8syaYhfwV
— A.Ashvathaman (@asuvathaman) September 28, 2021
#JusticeForGovindaraj pic.twitter.com/WnDKs6dMQB
— A.Ashvathaman (@asuvathaman) September 22, 2021
With prima facie evidence pointing towards the DMK MP, it has been reported that Chief Minister MK Stalin has asked Rajesh to resign from his post.
The media in Tamil Nadu has maintained stoic silence over the matter. News outlets like The News Minute which had covered the case of Benix and Jayaraj with a targeted campaign against the AIADMK government has looked the other way around with not even a single report about the issue.
(With inputs from Minnambalam)
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