Family members of former Dalit panchayat president S. Murugan, who was hacked to death by an armed gang at Keezha Vadakkur under Silaiman police station limits here, have appealed to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes on Thursday to provide police protection to Rajendran, the younger brother of the deceased.
The appeal was made to Senior Investigator of the Commission A. Lister, who probed the April-10 murder of the former Vembathur panchayat (Sivaganga district) president. He inspected the scene of crime and interacted with the family members of Murugan, including his wife Maheswari, who were staying in Puliyankulam.
On the fateful day, the armed gang indiscriminately hacked to death Murugan, who was returning to his home in Puliyankulam on a two-wheeler after attending a court hearing. “His wife said that had the Sivaganga Collector and Superintendent of Police provided police protection or given him gun licence, the murder could have been prevented,” Mr. Lister said.
Ms. Maheswari claimed that the officials failed to protect him despite his life was at peril following two revenge murders since 2010. “She said that Rajendran, the younger brother of Murugan, who runs a photo studio in Sivaganga district, faced life threat from rivals,” Mr. Lister said.
He interacted with Madurai Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao and Superintendent of Police Vijayendra Bidari. An immediate relief of ₹ 4.12 lakh has been provided to the family.
However, the Commission representative advised the district administration to expedite the process of providing other relief measures under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, such as farm land, house, educational assistance to the children, pension and employment to one family member.
Madurai district vigilance committee member Pandiyarajan accompanied Mr. Lister.
