Two more CITU members arrested in suicide case of Kerala auto driver

32-yr-old Rajesh had attempted suicide after members of CITU allegedly harassed and assaulted him for parking his auto rickshaw at Elathur auto stand.

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Two more members of Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) – trade union wing of CPI(M) – have been arrested in connection with the death of 32-year-old auto driver Rajesh, who died after trying to kill himself following harassment from the members of CITU.

Rajesh who attempted suicide on September 15 had succumbed to his injuries on Sunday at Kozhikode Medical College hospital. He was allegedly harassed and assaulted by members of CITU for parking his auto in the auto rickshaw stand at Elathur.

Muhammed Gadhassy and Murali, both residents of Elathur and CITU members, who are accused in the case, were arrested on Sunday. With this, a total of four CITU members have been arrested in the case. Six more CITU members who are held responsible for the death of Rajesh are absconding.

According to officials of Elathur police station, the arrested CITU members have been charged with Indian Penal Code sections 143 (Unlawful assembly), 147 (Rioting), 341 (Wrongful restraint), 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (Criminal intimidation) and 306 (Abetment of suicide) read with section 149 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object).

According to reports, Rajesh had bought an auto rickshaw two weeks ago after taking loan from the bank. Though he got permission to park his vehicle at Elathur auto stand, the members of CITU harassed and assaulted him for doing so.

It is also alleged that the accused even threatened to kill Rajesh’s wife. With the harassment getting severe and recurrent, Rajesh attempted to kill himself on September 15.

CITU leaders OK Sreelesh and Shaiju Kovath are the others who have been arrested in the case.

Meanwhile, BJP workers who alleged that the police were trying to sabotage the case for CITU, protested on Sunday by taking the mortal remains of Rajesh to police station.

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