Kerala: CPI(M) supporter commits suicide over rejection of his repeated complaints against waste-processing plant

Razak Payambrot, a CPM fellow traveller, committed suicide on May 26 at the Pulikkal Panchayat office, Malappuram district. He was found hanging with a bag containing copies of several complaints he wrote to the Panchayat Office. His suicide note was found in a bag hanging around his neck. He was a reputed social worker and was running the “Kondotty Times” evening daily and local TV channel and was a former secretary of Moyankutti Vaidyar Memorial Council. He was a member of Mapila Kala Academy too. The couple did not have any kids. He is the brother of Malayalam film script writer T A Razak’s wife. CPM rules Pulikkal Panchayat.

Reports suggest that the deceased had disputes with the Panchayat authorities in connection with complaints against a plastic waste treatment plant near his house. He had alleged that the factory’s smoke was polluting the entire area; his elder brother died of lung ailments by inhaling the polluted smoke from the plant. He had complained to the Panchayat president several times.

It is alleged that the CPM panchayat president did not give a damn. Razak’s friend said, during a TV discussion, that Razak’s elder brother was hospitalised due to lung ailment, and Razak called the president again. Then the president allegedly asked to produce evidence to substantiate his complaint. Then Razak reportedly told him that he would produce his brother’s dead body as evidence.

Reports suggest, Razak Payambrot’s relatives revealed that he (Razak) would not have committed suicide if CPM had extended him an iota of support. Jamaludheen Payambrot, Razak’s relative and a former branch secretary of CPM, said that Razak’s suicide was a protest. Jamaludheen wondered why CPI(M) supports an alleged SDPI activist’s factory. Jamaludheen reportedly said that Razak was happy like anything when CPI(M) was voted to power in Pulikkal panchayat. He and his wife donated their land to CPM for constructing a memorial for E M Sankaran Namboothiripad, CPM veteran and former Chief Minister of Kerala.

But when the panchayat president heard the news of Razak’s death, he is said to have reacted that a ‘worm is dead’. Jamaludheen said that he is not against the party, but the local leadership is creating issues.

Following the suicide of Razak Payambrot, the residents of Pullikal had stalled an attempt to reopen the factory. There are reports that the widow of the deceased has demanded a comprehensive investigation into her husband’s death, including the role of CPM.