Copyright thehindu
Virudhunagar A 40-year-old man, R. Suresh, of Kullursandhai near here who went missing since Wednesday night was found dead in an unused well at Vallampatti under Elayirampannai police station limits on Friday evening. The police said that Suresh, father of two children, had gone for hare hunting, on Wednesday night. However, he did not return home on Thursday morning. After searching for him, a complaint of man missing was lodged with Soolakkarai police on Thursday. Even as the police were searching for him nearby Vallampatti, they found the abandoned motorbike of Suresh. Later, they found that certain clues around a nearby well that led to suspicion that someone could have murdered Suresh and dumped his body inside the well. The wild growth around the unused well had been cut which caused the suspicion. Meanwhile, V. Narasimharaj, 47, of Vallampatti was found dead inside his house on Friday. This strengthened the suspicion and the police and firemen search the well and found the body of Suresh inside it. The police suspect that Narasimharaj had put illegal electric fencing for his maize farm to protect the crops from wild animals. Suresh who had gone for hunting could have got electrocuted and died on the spot. Narasimharaj had dumped his body in the well after clearing the wild bush around it. However, as the police began the enquiry, fearing getting caught, he had ended his life. Meanwhile, the Forest Department has issued a warning against putting up illegal electric fencing around farmland. In a statement, Sivakasi Forest Range Officer M. Poovendhan, said that illegal fencing was a criminal offence. He said that the farmer would be booked under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, if any wild animal is electrocuted to death by the electric fencing. Instead of putting up illegal electric fencing, the farmers and land owners should approach the officials of Forest Department for getting compensation, if they face any crop loss due to wild animals intrusion. People can alert the Forest Department if they find any illegal electric fencing in Sivakasi, Sattur and Vembakottai region. They can call the Forest Range Officer, Sivakasi: 84890 54853; Forest Guard: 97894 48985 or the office of Deputy Director, Srivilliputtur Meghamalai Tiger Reserve: 04563–260565, the statement said. (Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.)
