A 25-year-old Anti-Poaching Watcher (APW) from the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) allegedly committed suicide by consuming cow dung powder after a higher official scolded him, on Monday.

According to the Valparai police, the deceased N. Senthoorapandian, a resident of the Kavarakkal settlement, was working as a temporary APW for the past one year in the Valparai range of the ATR. He was very irregular with his job and was often absent from work. Due to these reasons, he was sacked from the job around five days ago. But Senthoorapandian didn’t inform his family members and continued to pretend as if he was going to work. Frustrated with the financial crises that his family faced, he consumed cow dung powder early on Monday morning and died.

Sources claim that, just before dying, he had told them that he was being constantly harassed by his higher officials. But the police have denied that such statements were made, and have said that there was no proof of harassment. Meanwhile, Senthoorapandian’s relatives have demanded an inquiry into his suicide, and have asked that his job be given to one of his family members, along with a solatium of Rs.5 lakhs.