The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Pappapatti candidate dies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 13, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Pappapatti candidate dies

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, APRIL 12. P. Narasingam (52), candidate for the by-election to the Pappapatti panchayat president post, died today at Karaiyanpatti, near here.

Initial reports, sparked rumours of foul play as the blood stained body was found near a tank. According to official sources, Mr. Narasingam went to bathe in the tank situated near his house around 7.10 a.m. But while returning home he developed uneasiness, vomited blood and swooned. He died thereafter. Preliminary enquiries by revenue and police authorities indicated that Mr. Narasingam was a chronic TB patient. However, a detailed report on the circumstances leading to his death would be made available soon. The post-mortem was performed by the Government Rajaji Hospital here at 1.30 p.m.

V. K. M. Ganesan, organising secretary of Moovendar Munnani Kazhagam, said Mr.Narasingam enjoyed the support of the Dalits, the Dalit Panthers of India and the prospects of he winning the by-election were bright but fate had willed otherwise.

Mr. Narasingam had remitted the deposit money with the help of proceeds of kerosene sale. Immediately after the post-mortem was performed at the GRH, the DPI general secretary, Thol. Tirumavalavan, paid floral tributes to Mr. Narasingam. The body was later handed over to his wife, Muniammal.

Senior police officials led by the DIG, B.K. Ravi, the SP, T. Sundaresan, and Additional SP, Arumugam, and the Revenue Divisional Officer, Dinesh Ponraj Oliver, took steps to prevent any trouble. The body was cremated in the evening. Mr. Narasingam is survived by Muniammal, a son and two daughters.

Mr. Tirumavalavan condemning the ``recurring murder of democracy'' in Pappapatti and Keeripatti village panchayats said none of the political parties had taken any effort to restore democracy.

He told reporters here that his party suspected foul play in the death of Mr. Narasingam.

CBI probe sought

He asked the Government to order a probe by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) into the death. The authorities claimed that Mr. Narasingam had a cardiac arrest while returning home after taking bath but this could not be accepted by villagers and his party, he claimed.

Mr. Tirumavalavan said his party would boycott the election in Pappapatti and would convene an all-party meeting in Chennai to ``rein in the vicious forces bent upon destabilising democracy.''

He sought police protection to the DPI-supported candidate for Keeripatti, P. Poonkodi.

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