Stigmatised despite recovery\, GST official kills self in city

Trigger warning: The following content may cause emotional distress.

Though he reportedly stated in a suicide note that no one was responsible for him taking the extreme step, a message reportedly shared by his friend alleged that he faced discrimination by neighbours in his apartment complex after contracting the infection.

The deceased, TM Manikannan (53), was a Superintendent (Senior Intelligence Officer) in the GST office and lived with his wife Kala, an officer in the Income Tax department. Police said the couple moved to an apartment on Lake Area Sixth Street in Nungambakkam for rent in March so that their son could stay in their house on Fifth Street to prepare for CA exams.

According to officials, Manikannan and his wife Kala tested positive for COVID in May. He was home quarantined, while Kala was hospitalised. Both recovered two weeks later. On Friday morning, he prepared tea for his son before going to Marina beach for cycling. However, when Kala called him around 7.30 am, Manikannan’s phone was switched off. She immediately sent her son to check if he was in their apartment on fifth street. To their shock, Manikannan was found hanging in the bedroom using dhoti.

On information, the police recovered his body and sent it for post-mortem examination. A case was registered by Nungambakkam police and further investigation is on.

Meanwhile, Manikannan’s friends alleged in a message that he was facing discrimination by neighbours even after recovering from coronavirus infection. “There were instances when his neighbours shut their doors when they saw him. When he went to the terrace in the evening, all the others who were there moved away from the place hurriedly,” the message read.

However, when contacted, officials said they have not received any such complaints yet. In her statement, Manikannan’s wife has mentioned that Manikannan was disturbed even after recovering from COVID-19, and had feared contracting the infection again.