Village
Assistant Sireesh, who is suspected to have a role in the harassment, has been
suspended over the incident. Joy’s brother said that his brother was
threatened by the officials and was unable to bear the mental torture.
A farmer allegedly committed suicide
outside a village office in Kerala’s Kozhikode district on Wednesday night.
Kavilpurayidathil Joy, alias Thomas, 57, of Chakkittapara village was found
hanging around 9.30 pm. Alleged harassment by staff in the village office is
said to have led to the suicide.
Police sources, quoting his suicide note, told The
Hindu that he was turned
away by the staff of the Chembanod village office when he went there to pay
land tax. Joy’s family also alleged that the village officials repeatedly
rejected his attempts to pay tax on land registered in his wife’s name and also
asked for a bribe. The farmer is survived by his wife and three children.
Village Assistant Sireesh, who is suspected to have a role in
the harassment, has been suspended over the incident. Joy’s brother told
Mathrubhumi newspaper that his brother was threatened by the officials and was
unable to bear the mental torture.
The land was purportedly under a family dispute. Joy had earlier
complained in the village office about the non-acceptance of the land tax. They
also took part in the sit-in protest near the village office. The village
office refused to accept the payment stating that the land was not assessed in
revenue records. Joy’s family was paying the tax for availing loans to pay off
debts.
The Congress has called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal at
Chakkittapara and has refused to shift Joy’s body unless the government assured
official action against the culprits, The Hindu reported. E Chandrasekharan, the
Revenue Minister has also asked for a report from Kozhikode District Collector
U V Jose on the incident. The Collector, after meeting Joy’s relatives said,
“I’ll ensure that tax on the property will be collected today itself. People
responsible for the incident will face action.”
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