Probe ordered into Malayalam actor's death

Thiruvananthapuram, April 28 (IANS) Police have been ordered to probe the death of popular Malayalam film and TV actor Sreenath, Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said Wednesday.

'I have forwarded the request from the actor's family for a through probe into Sreenath's death,' said Balakrishnan.

The actor was found dead with his wrist slashed in a hotel at Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district last Friday morning.

On Sunday, the actor's brother Satyanath held a press conference here and said they suspected foul play in his death. Kothamangalam is around 250 km from here.

Sreenath was shooting for Malayalam film 'Shikar' starring superstar Mohanlal.

Satyanath said it was shocking that no one from the sets of 'Shikar' came to attend the funeral and did not even call the actor's family.

Meanwhile, reports said the actor was omitted from the film 'Shikar' since he was not a member of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA).

Actor Thilakan, who was recently thrown out of AMMA, lashed out at the group saying it has become 'a mafia organization capable of doing any thing'.

'There are allegations that Sreenath was mentally harassed by few people in AMMA. There are many in AMMA who are bearing all the unpleasant experiences silently. They keep quiet out of fear of being ostracized. It is high time the culture ministry intervenes,' said Thilakan.

Sreenath, who was in his early 50s, began his film career in the 1980s but faded out after an initial burst of movies.

After a hiatus, he went on to become a popular television actor though he continued to act in films occasionally.

His popular films include 'Salini Ente Kootukari', 'Ethu Njangalude Katha', 'Oru CBI Dairy Kurippu' and 'Kireedom'.