KOCHI: The incident in which a CPM leader and former panchayat president jumped into the backwaters from a boat near Fort Kochi took a new turn after his suicide note pointed to the factionalism in the CPM local committee. Former president of Elamkunnapuzha grama panchayat V K Krishnan, 74, of Vattathara Veettil, Malippuram, jumped from a boat that was going from Vypin to Fort Kochi, into the backwaters around 7.30 pm on Tuesday.
Krishnan’s relatives raised allegations against the CPM over the incident, saying he attempted suicide due to the mental torture from the CPM in party meetings. This pushed him to commit suicide; he did not have any financial problems, relatives added.Krishnan handed over his suicide note to a commuter on the boat. He alleged in the letter that the Elamkunnapuzha local committee tried to oust him from the party. He admitted he has made a heap of mistakes. “As I am undergoing emotional distress I can do only this; forgive me,” the letter said.
Krishnan, a Dalit leader, who represents the 22nd ward had lost his panchayat president post after the no-confidence motion put forward by the Congress passed on May 31. However, he stated in the letter he had no distress or desperation over losing the post.Krishnan was the member of CPM Elamkunnapuzha local committee. He had participated in the local committee meet on Monday and the panchayat committee on Tuesday. He was also the panchayat member from 2005 to 2010. Krishnan was associated with the VS faction, when factionalism was in its zenith in the party.
Meanwhile, the search for him was still continuing on Wednesday.The searches were affected by poor visibility and strong undercurrents on Tuesday. The Navy and the Coast Guard also joined the operations conducting by the Coastal Police, Marine Enforcement and Mulavukad police.
Kodikunnil Suresh MP demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. The Congress leader alleged the CPM’s “dark hands are behind this apparent suicide attempt”.He added that Krishnan fell prey to the divisive caste politics and constant mental torture perpetrated by the party.
“The CPM’s practice of attacking and killing Dalit and Schedule Caste members who don’t follow their whims is still prevalent in today’s time,” said Suresh.