75-year-old tribal Thirunavukkarasu mysteriously missing, disappearance creates panic after rescuing Vellayan from farm-stay.
Palakkad/Kerala: The Kollengod police have registered an FIR on the complaint of Mariyappan K., state president of the Tribal Protection Organization. The complaint states that his relative and 75-year-old tribal elder Thirunavukkarasu has been missing since around 11 pm on Thursday night.
Thirunavukkarasu is the same person who first exposed the plight of 54-year-old Chambukkuzhi Vellayan. Vellayan, who hails from the Eravallan tribe and lives in Muchakundu in Muthalamada, was allegedly held hostage for five days at a farm-stay called Western Gateways. The farm-stay is located near the Oorkkulam forest. It is alleged that the owner and the employees kept Vellayan locked in a room, starved him and beat him.
Thirunavukkarasu immediately informed the local tribal activists and public representatives about this. After this, Vellayan was rescued from there with the help of Kollengod police and social workers.
But, according to Mariyappan, “As soon as the Vellayan incident came to light, Thirunavukkarasu suddenly disappeared. He was nowhere to be seen even when we were rescuing Vellayan.”
Allegations against farm-stay owner
The complaint states that farm-stay owner Prabhu may have a hand in Thirunavukkarasu’s disappearance, as he knew a lot about the illegal activities going on in the farm-stay.
Kollengod police said, “We received the complaint late Friday night and we have registered an FIR under Section 57 (attempt to trace a missing person) of the Kerala Police Act 2011. Investigation into the case has been started.” At present, Prabhu and some of his employees are absconding. The police have registered a case against Prabhu for attempt to murder and under the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. At the same time, Prabhu’s mother Ranganayaki has been detained by the police in the Vellayan case.
How did the incident happen?
Muthalamada Gram Panchayat’s former president and current member Kalpana Devi said that on August 17 (Sunday), Vellayan had gone to the farm-stay for labor. There he drank the liquor kept in the premises. Angered by this, Prabhu and his employees locked him in a room.
Vellayan said that he was given food only once a day, but was often beaten and kicked. He remained imprisoned in the farm-stay for about five days.
He was admitted to the Palakkad District Hospital early Friday morning and was discharged the same evening.
Strictness of the government and the commission
Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Backward Class Welfare Minister O.R. Kelu has sought an immediate report from the Director of the Tribal Development Department on this incident. At the same time, the Scheduled Caste/Tribe Commission has also sought a separate report from the Palakkad District Police Chief.
Rajan Chaudhary
Courtesy: Hindi News