Kochi: Noted environmentalist V J Jose, 63, collapsed and died on the way to hospital on Thursday.
The incident occured after a loan recovery agent allegedly intimidated him of dire consequence in the event of non-payment of a vehicle loan his had taken from HDFC bank.
Local residents reportedly took out a protest march to HDFC bank branch here at Palarivattom.
A loan recovery man showed up at the environmental activist’s residence in the morning asking after his son Joel Chris who was due on paying up a vehicle loan.
Joel Chris was still asleep and woke up hearing heated exchange at 7.45 am. Joel told the media he had assured the bank that he would pay up outstanding amount by June 30.
A diabetic with high BP, Jose collapsed leading to death, and his post mortem was done at Ernakulam Government Medical College Hospital.
Popularly called Green Peace Jose, he represented Greenpeace International working as a Periyar Riverkeeper for more than two decades.