Kochi: A homeless ragpicker Muralidharan, 30, of Tamil origin was found hanging from a tree at Kandanchina in Thennala panchayat in Malappuram district. Political leaders alleged that Muralidharan was upset over the panchayat not providing him a permanent house under the shelter for the poor scheme.

Muralidharan had been knocking the doors of the panchayat for a long time, they claimed. He had no permanent house and was staying with his family comprising his old parents, wife Muthulakshmi, and four children which include a newborn, in a haunted house. His parents had migrated to Kerala about 50 years back.

Panchayat president A P Kunjumoideen told The Covai Post that Muralidharan had met him a few months back with the complaint that the police were harassing his family as they did not have a house of their own. The president said the panchayat could have urgently done something if he had a ration card which he did not possess.

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As he was desperate to get a shelter, the president discussed the matter with the panchayat secretary and the LIFE coordinator who said the matter could be solved if the government cleared a proposal in this regard. Therefore, the panchayat decided to include the matter in the agenda of the panchayat committee meeting scheduled for June 19.

Kunjumoideen claimed that the reason behind Muralidharan’s suicide was something else and not the shelter. The president said Muralidharan was heavily drunk during his visit to the panchayat.

Even his wife Muthulakshmi said he would frequently pick up quarrel with his parents and her after consuming liquor. He would often threaten to commit suicide. Yesterday also he said such things and ran away with a saree, she added. The post mortem was held in Tirur taluk hospital.

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