August 1, 2025

In a shocking incident that has raised concerns over custodial practices, a 58-year-old tribal man was found dead in a toilet at the Udumalpet forest range office located in the Tirupur district of Tamil Nadu. The deceased, identified as P Marimuthu, was reportedly detained by officers from the Kerala forest department on a Wednesday evening. Relatives of Marimuthu suspect foul play, alleging that his death could be linked to the treatment he received during his stay in custody. Investigations reveal that Marimuthu was apprehended at the Chinnar forest check post while traveling from Udumalpet to Munnar, a popular hill station in the Western Ghats. Officers claimed to have discovered a leopard tooth in his possession, which prompted his detention. Preliminary inquiries indicated that Marimuthu confessed to purchasing the tooth, which he claimed he acquired from an individual named Sankar. Following this confession, he was handed over to the Udumalpet forest range officers for further questioning. However, the sequence of events took a tragic turn when Marimuthu was later found hanged in a toilet at the forest range office. Forest officials quickly stated that it was a case of suicide, but this explanation has been met with skepticism from family members and tribal activists alike. S Thanaraj, a tribal activist, publicly contested the official narrative, noting that Marimuthu's death bears unsettling similarities to the custodial murder of Ajith Kumar in Thirupuvanam. He expressed strong suspicion over the incident, suggesting that it stemmed from revenge by forest department officers due to Marimuthu’s prior acquittal in a drug-related case on July 29. Thanaraj accused the officials of assaulting Marimuthu during interrogation, leading to his untimely demise, and called for a comprehensive investigation by the CB-CID (Criminal Bereau of Criminal Investigation Department). He further demanded financial compensation of Rs 50 lakh for Marimuthu’s family, highlighting the need for justice. In the wake of this tragic incident, Marimuthu's daughter, M Sindhu, approached the Udumalpet police to lodge a formal complaint regarding her father's death. In her statement, she elaborated on her family’s situation, mentioning that both her parents were seasonal workers running a provision store in Munnar. She claimed that her father was illegally detained by forest range officers after he returned to the area after a meeting with his lawyer, describing how the officials targeted them because of their tribal status. According to M Sindhu's complaint, the forest officers coerced them into accepting false charges against them. "As my father refused to accept the allegations, forest range officers have done this to him," she stated, alluding to a greater systemic issue affecting tribal communities in the region. As the situation unfolds, the Udumalpet deputy superintendent of police was alerted by forest department officers and arrived at the scene to initiate an inquiry. The police have since sent Marimuthu's body for a postmortem examination while continuing efforts to clarify the details surrounding his death. The case has highlighted the ongoing struggle of tribal communities against perceived injustices and abuse within enforcement systems, illustrating the necessity of transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices.

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Tags: Tribal man, Death, Forest department, Foul play,