The alleged murder of state government transport employee Xavier Kumar in a dispute over church funds at a pastor’s house has sent shockwaves through the community. Xavier Kumar, a mechanic at the Kanyakumari government transport department bus depot, was reportedly beaten to death, sparking tensions as his relatives demand justice and immediate arrests in the case.
Xavier Kumar, a member of film director Seeman’s Nam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK) and president of the Thakalaim Panchayat union, was a resident of Thingal Sandahi. The incident unfolded at the residence of Pastor Robinson, who is also the head of the Mylord Christian Church parish.
Media reports suggest that Xavier Kumar served as the treasurer of the church parish, and a financial dispute emerged between him and the pastor and his team regarding the management of church funds. Both parties had filed complaints with the Iraniyal police station.
The conflict escalated as Xavier Kumar, a vocal critic of the rival group managing the parish, sought details of the church’s accounts and made public comments on social media. His wife, Jemila, who worked as a teacher in a school run by the Mylord church, faced termination from her job. In an attempt to address the issue, Jemila and her relatives visited Pastor Robinson’s house for discussions.
Jemila assured the pastor that her husband would refrain from making negative comments and promised to pardon him. However, Pastor Robinson insisted on a personal meeting with Xavier Kumar to receive a written apology. The pastor offered to reinstate Jemila in her job and withdraw her termination order upon receiving the apology.
On January 20th, Vincent approached Xavier Kumar, telling him that if he tendered a written apology, Jemila would regain her job. Believing this assurance, Xavier Kumar accompanied Vincent to the pastor’s residence, where discussions were held among those gathered.
In a shocking turn of events, Xavier Kumar’s relatives later discovered his lifeless body with severe injuries. The news spread rapidly, leading to tension as NTK workers and relatives gathered at the scene. The police investigation revealed that Xavier likely sustained head injuries from an iron box during a scuffle that took place prior to the attack. The pastor and DMK functionaries involved in the discussions reportedly went underground.
Tensions escalated further as Xavier Kumar’s relatives and NTK cadres refused to allow the police to take the body for autopsy at the government hospital. They demanded immediate arrests of those involved in the murder. Throughout the night, the situation remained tense, prompting the deployment of additional police personnel to prevent untoward incidents.
There are allegations that the police, acting on instructions from ruling party leaders, may be attempting to facilitate the escape of the suspects. This comes in the wake of another case in Chennai where the son and daughter-in-law of a DMK sitting MLA are allowed to go underground following the horrific abuse of a teenaged Dalit girl. The police in that case are accused of attempting to hush up the matter, with reported threats and offers of money to the victim and her family by individuals connected to the MLA.
As the investigation unfolds, the community awaits justice for Xavier Kumar, with concerns raised about the impartiality of the investigation and the potential influence of political connections. The incident adds to a growing sense of unease surrounding the handling of criminal cases involving influential individuals.
