Tamil Nadu: Body of Dalit labourer hanging from a tree, hands tied – still suicide? Questions raised on police theory!

Uproar over calling the suspicious death of a Dalit laborer a suicide, questions raised on hanging with tied hands, Dalit organizations demanded a fair investigation

Published on: 01 Jul 2025, 3:51 pm

Tiruppur (Tamil Nadu): The Tamil Nadu police has been accused of covering up the suspicious death of a Dalit youth in Tiruppur district by terming it a suicide. The police have termed the death of 42-year-old K. Murugan, a daily wage labourer, as a suicide, but Dalit activists and political parties have raised questions—especially about how a person with his hands tied could commit suicide by hanging himself from a tree?

The activists also allege that the police have made the case more suspicious by cremating the body quickly.

According to The News Minute report , Murugan, who was a resident of Senakkalpalayam village, was found hanging from a neem tree on the morning of June 26 (Thursday). The land is reportedly owned by Palaniswamy Gounder, for whom Murugan worked as a daily wage labourer.

The police have registered a case of suicide under Section 194 of the Indian Civil Security Code (BNSS) based on the statement of Murugan’s wife Manimegalai, who reportedly denied any foul play.

According to the FIR, Manimegalai told the police that Murugan was ill for a long time and was mentally disturbed due to his addiction to alcohol. He was undergoing treatment for TB at the Christian Fellowship Hospital in Oddanchatram, but did not stop drinking despite the advice of doctors, which worsened his condition.

The FIR states that on the night of June 25, Murugan suffered from severe stomach pain and was rushed to the Dharapuram Government Hospital twice. The couple stayed the night at a relative’s house, and the next morning Murugan said he was fine and going to work. A few hours later, Manimegalai received information that her husband was found hanging from a tree near the military colony.

The Alangiyam police recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem and handed it over to the family for cremation the next day.

However, Dalit organisations and activists have questioned the police claim. Mugilarasan, the state chief secretary of Tamil Puligal Katchi, has submitted a memorandum to the DSP alleging that pressure was being exerted on Manimegalai to change her statement.

He claimed that both Murugan and his wife worked for the Gounder family and some local people and relatives were spreading false rumours about Murugan’s debt and illness in an attempt to suppress the truth under caste pressure.

“There is clearly a mystery in this death. A man with his hands tied cannot climb a 20-feet high tree, tie a rope and commit suicide. If he had done so, the branch would have broken. We believe he was murdered and the case was made to look like a suicide,” the memo said.

Siruthai Valluvan, zonal secretary of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), also raised questions, saying the police had hurriedly cremated the body and hidden evidence.

Valluvan said, “Even children will not believe that Murugan would have hanged himself with his hands tied. How can the police make such a claim? The Tamil Nadu government should compensate the victim’s family and ensure the safety of Dalits in the area.”

However, when Alangiyam police was contacted, they denied any wrongdoing.

“When we recovered the body, the hands were not tied, but the rope was just wrapped around the hands. The post-mortem report did not reveal any internal injuries or marks of strangulation,” a police officer said over the phone.

The police have confirmed that the land where Murugan’s body was found belongs to Palaniswami Gounder — raising suspicion further.