Asphyxiation victim’s kin stage protest seeking justice, refuse to receive body

VIRUDHUNAGAR: The kin of asphyxiation victim Sabarinathan, 31, and activists campaigning against manual scavenging staged a day-long waiting protest at the Aruppukottai government hospital in Virudhunagar district on Friday and refused to receive his body. They demanded that a case be registered under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013 and Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
State convenor of Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA) – a movement that aims to completely eradicate manual scavenging from India – Samuel Velankanni said that police registered a case under the Indian Penal Code, according to which the death was accidental.“They are threatening Sabarinathan’s relatives to extend cooperation to conduct the autopsy and to receive his body,” he claimed.
The man from a ST community worked as a septic tank cleaner. He is survived by his wife Kasthuri, 30, and two children. On Thursday evening, Sabari and his colleague Rajapandi went to clean a septic tank in a house in Poolangal village near Tiruchuli, where the incident took place.
Sabari died while trying to rescue Rajapandi, who fainted and fell inside the tank. His body was taken to the Aruppukkottai government hospital. “His family was in grief when the police convinced them and make his wife sign a statement that his death was an accident while he was at work,” SKA Virudhunagar district organizer, P Sathya said.
“According to the Manual Scavengers Rehabilitation Act, the victim’s family should be given a compensation of Rs 10 lakh,” Sathya said.
She added that the Act also states that the government should provide a government job for the dependent and take care of the entire education expenses of the victim’s children.
The protest that began in the morning continued till night amidst warnings by the police that they will be arrested.