KOLLAM: A former CPM activist in Punalur, who joined the CPI a few months ago, committed suicide on Sunday allegedly after he was verbally abused by the CPM activists. The victim, Gopalakrishna Pillai, 73, of ‘Sreedevi House’ at Venchembu at Karavaloor, and his family had received death threats from CPM activists, it is alleged. Pillai was found hanging from a tree near their house at Venchembu and a suicide note allegedly named the CPM men for his extreme step.
His son Manoj had also left the CPM and joined the CPI along with him. Manoj has been absconding after the police charged a case against him for a bout between CPM and CPI activists at Kunjandimukku two months back. A petition seeking anticipatory bail for Manoj is pending. According to local residents, Gopalakrishna Pillai was mentally traumatised after the CPM activists raised death threats against him at a market place two days before his suicide.
His wife Radhamani filed a petition with the Punalur ASP demanding a thorough inquiry and action against the culprits involved in the incidents. “We have received a complaint from his family and the investigation is in progress. Prima facie, the police suspect threats from some persons for the suicide. The autopsy report has confirmed death by hanging,” Dr. G. Karthikeyan IPS, ASP Punalur, told DC.
