Tamil Nadu

A murder and an unending ordeal

Photo: C. Jaishankar

UNENDING WAIT: The family of Suseendran, who was murdered in Malaysia nearly 10 months ago. —

RAMANATHAPURAM: For the last ten months, 52-year old Muthu Nachiar of Kumarakurichi near Paramakudi is awaiting her son’s body kept in a mortuary in Malaysia, where he had gone for employment.

Ever since the call from Malaysia on January 28, informing her that Suseendran (22) had been murdered, allegedly by a gang, the family has been disconsolate; not only have they lost their beloved member but they are also not in a position to perform the obsequies.

Suseendran’s father Sethuraja spared no effort to bring back the body and spent thousands of rupees contacting his employer and Malaysian authorities. He also sought the help of the Sivaganga Collector, the State Government, Ministry of External Affairs and the High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur.

With his efforts not yielding result, Mr. Sethuraja filed a writ petition in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking its intervention to bring his son’s body to India.

Justice V. Ramasubramanian, before whom the case was taken up in August, directed the State Government to take steps to bring back the body within three weeks with the assistance of the High Commission.

He said the State Government was duty bound to make arrangements to bring the body as the indigent father did not possess the wherewithal for the same. The Judge also directed the Paramakudi police to register a case against four Indian citizens in Malaysia who allegedly committed the murder.

Three months after the court ruling, there is no sign of any progress.

“Imagine our plight. How can we eat, sleep or perform routine work when my son’s body is lying at a mortuary?” asks Muthu Nachiar.

“The soul of my son will rest in peace only after the burial of his remains. I hope Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi will help me,” adds Sethuraja.

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