VILLUPURAM: A couple from Mayampadi village in Kalvarayan Hills here was locked up in their house for a day and forced to hand over their farmland to the panchayat after villagers blamed them for allegedly driving a youth to suicide. The couple — Mariyapillai and Papathi — after being freed, lodged a complaint with the police and nine persons, who were involved in the incident, were arrested on Tuesday.
According to sources, Goundamani of Mayampadi allegedly kept stalking Renuka (22) for some months and proposed to marry her. But Renuka rejected him and informed about his overtures to her parents Mariyapillai and Papathi. Mariyapillai warned Goundamani. In July, Renuka married another person. Hearing the news, an upset Goundamani hanged himself in his house on August 4.
The villagers blamed Mariyapillai’s family for Goundamani’s death and decided to ostracise them. They asked Mariyapillai to pay `16 lakh as compensation in order to “relax” the punishment. But, Mariyapillai refused to pay.
On Wednesday last, nine villagers went to Mariyapillai’s house, which was owned by a person called ‘Delhi’ Raja, and locked it from outside. They demanded that the couple give them the money in order to free them. When they said they did not have such a huge amount, the villagers asked them to sign a document claiming that Mariyapillai was handing over his farmland to the panchayat.
After being confined in the house for a day, Mariyapillai signed the document, following which he and his wife were released. But the nine persons threatened to kill them if they informed anyone about the incident. However, the next day, Mariyapillai lodged a complaint with Kallakurichi DSP Mathivanan, following which the nine persons were arrested.