Relatives of M. Sambandam (52) of Andakudi near Papanasam, who consumed poison on Thursday and died on Friday, blocked traffic on Kutcheri Road opposite the Government Headquarters Hospital here on Saturday. They demanded action against the private sugar mill (Thiru Arooran Sugars Ltd.) at Thirumandankudi, which they alleged was responsible for the death.
They refused to receive the body, stating that the post-mortem was conducted without their consent. However, following the intervention of police and revenue officials, the relatives accepted the body.
Sources said Sambandam was depressed over the sugar mill’s failure to pay the State Advised Price (SAP) for the cane supplied by him. The suicide has come in the midst of complaints from farmers’ associations that many private sugar mills in the State were refusing to pay the SAP of Rs.2,650 per tonne.
According to a complaint lodged with the police by Sudhakar, son of Sambandam, the deceased had been cultivating sugarcane on one acre of land for the past 20 years. This year too he had cultivated sugarcane, but the cutting order by the private mill was given only in March instead of January.
Sambandam had supplied about 23 tonnes of cane to the mill and was assured of payment of Rs.2,200 a tonne (the fair and remunerative price announced by the Centre) only. So he has been visiting the mill seeking payment of the SAP, but in vain. Sudhakar held the mill responsible for the death of his father.
He reportedly committed suicide as a private sugar mill failed to pay the State Advised Price
