Relatives seek arrest of landlord for allegedly abetting suicide of tenant

Relatives of a 45-year-old man, who committed suicide, picketed the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital on Sunday. They alleged that humiliation by the landlord was the reason for him to end his life and sought arrest of the landlord. Tensed moments prevailed at the hospital as the family refused to collect his body till the police promised necessary action.

V. Loganathan, a temple security guard, lived in a rented house on Thiyagaraya New Street near R.S. Puram with his wife L. Rajeshwari (37), who weaves flowers, and their two daughters who are studying in Classes VIII and X, for Rs. 5,000 a month as rent.

According to the police, Loganathan moved there with his family about a year ago and was irregular in paying rents. Preliminary inquiry by the police revealed that from April this year the landlord was deducting rent from the advance. It is learnt that the advance was completely deducted and Loganathan had to pay Rs. 2,000 towards last month’s rent. Rajeshwari claimed that on Tuesday the landlord came to their house – which is one of the nine houses in the three-storied building – and humiliated him and the family.

“She spoke ill of us and asked us to find out alternative ways to pay the rent. The owner also disconnected electricity and water supply to the house. My husband was upset over her abusive language. The next day (Wednesday) he consumed poison in the children’s park in the nearby locality and was found unconscious,” she said. Loganathan was admitted in the CMCH, where he died during the late hours of Saturday. The R.S. Puram Police registered the case under 174 (unnatural death) of the Code of Criminal Procedures, on a complaint lodged by Rajeshwari. Following the protest, the case was altered to section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code.

“My daughters and I will take the extreme step if my husband does not get justice,” Rajeshwari said. On Sunday, post-mortem was conducted on his body and after talks ,it was handed over to the family. Persons feeling suicidal can call NGO Sneha on its 24 hour helpline number 044-24640050 to get over such momentary extreme decisions.