Missing worker drowns, kin suspect foul play

Alleging foul play in the death of a worker, family members and relatives refused to receive the body and staged a sit-in-protest at Government Hospital in Gobichettipalayam here on Monday evening.

According to sources, K. Govindan (36) of Chinna Chettiyapalayam, a tailor at a garment manufacturing unit in Malayapalayam, left for work on Sunday and did not return home in the evening. Search efforts by their family members failed to locate him.

A villager informed Govindan’s brother Perumal that he drowned at Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) canal at Elathur Chettipalayam. Relatives rushed to the spot to trace the body. However, they could not locate it. On Monday morning, they found the body floating near a bridge.

Kadathur police retrieved the body and sent to the hospital. A case of drowning was registered. Postmortem was also completed. However, family members and relatives alleged that injuries was found in the body and refused to receive it.

Gobichettipalayam DSP Selvam and police personnel held talks with them. They said that four persons accompanied Govindaraj while he went to the work. Also, they wanted inquiries to be held with the company owner. Police assured that inquiry will be held with suspicious persons and action will be taken. Later, they received the body and left.