KERALA FARMER COMMITS SUICIDE ALLEGEDLY DUE TO OFFICIALS

A farmer was found hanging allegedly by suicide outside a village office in Kozhikode district of Kerala on Wednesday night. Kavilpurayidathil Joy, alias Thomas, 57, hailed from the village of Chakkittapara. The farmer was found hanging at 9.30 PM. The farmers brother has alleged harassment by village official staff which led to his suicide.

The village assistant Sireesh, suspected of having a role in the harassment, has been suspended for the incident. Joy's brother said his brother was threatened by officers and could not stand the mental torture.

Police sources, citing his suicide note, say that he was turned down by village office staff at Chembanod village when he went there to pay taxes on land. Joy's family also claimed that village officials repeatedly rejected their attempts to pay registered land taxes on behalf of his wife and also requested a bribe. The farmer is survived by his wife and three children.

The village assistant Sireesh, suspected of having a role in the harassment, has been suspended for the incident. Joy's brother told the daily Mathrubhumi that his brother was threatened by the officers and could not stand the mental torture. The land was supposedly under a family dispute. Joy had previously complained in the village office about the non-acceptance of the land tax. They also participated in the demonstration of sitting before the village office. The village office refused to accept the payment stating that the land was not evaluated in the income records. Joy's family was paying the tax on the loans they took to pay off debts.

Congress has called for a full day strike at Chakkittapara and has refused to move Joy's body unless the government ensures official action against the culprits. E Chandrasekharan, the Revenue Minister has also requested a report from Kozhikode District Collector U V Jose about the incident. The Collector, after meeting with Joy's relatives, said: "I will make sure property tax is collected today. The people responsible for the incident will face the action.