Sileesh Thomas, village assistant formerly attached to the Chembanoda village office, who had been absconding after the police arraigned him as an accused in the case of suicide of Kavilpurayidathil Joy, a settler farmer from Chakkittappara grama panchayat, surrendered before the police on Monday night.
He surrendered before Perambra Circle Inspector K.P. Sunil Kumar, who is investigating the case. He was forced to surrender as a police team traced his hideout in Wayanad.
His arrest was recorded and he was produced before the Perambra Judicial First Class Magistrate’s Court. The accused was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.
Kavilpurayidathil Joy, 57, took the extreme step after he was turned away by the staff of the Chembanoda village office when he went there to pay land tax. He hanged himself outside the village office in Kozhikode district last Wednesday night.
The suicide note of Joy had named the village assistant for refusing to collect tax for the land in his possession.
Thomas and Chembanoda village officer C.A. Sunny were suspended by District Collector U.V. Jose last week.
Chandy visits family
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who visited the family, told the media that he would request the government to write off the debt of the family and provide employment to a daughter.
