Hyderabad: Debts forced Srinivas, 26, from Parigi, to go to Saudi Arabia. Srinivas started working as the driver of a school bus three years ago. Recently, Saudi police arrested him after the school van he was driving had an accident.
On Thursday, his family received word that Srinivas had committed suicide three days ago. His family alleged that Srinivas was murdered by Saudi police. They demanded a thorough inquiry into his death and to bring his body home.
Oditha Srinivas was the third son of Oditha Govinda Naik and Manibai, farmers hailing from Ibrahimpur tanda in Vikarabad district. While his two elder brothers Shankar and Santosh took up farming, Srinivas went to school. But his poor finances forced him to quit studies after SSC. Since then, he had been helping his father and brother on the farm.
The situation became worse due to the monsoon failure four years ago. Srinivas, who had heard the stories of villagers who went to the Gulf, decided to go there so that he can clear his family's debts.
“He always spoke about clearing debts first and then save something for the future. But he is dead in a distant land now. We are waiting to have a last look at him,” his father said.
Nearly 10 days ago the school van which he was driving met with an accident and he was arrested. A court convicted him to 10 days imprisonment and fine. Three days ago he was found hanging in the prison’s bathroom.
“My brother is not likely to commit suicide. There is something suspicious behind his death. We appeal to the government to inquire into his death and ensure that his body reaches us,” his brothers said.
