Chennai: The relatives of R Padma, one of the two women who was allegedly sacrificed as part of a black magic ritual in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district, have requested the help of the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in order to obtain her mortal remains for the funeral rites. They have little money left on hand and have received no assistance from anyone.
Padma's youngest son R Selvaraj, who is currently staying with his aunt, claims that their stay in Kerala following his mother's passing is becoming too traumatic, emotionally draining, and financially unmanageable.
After Padma, a daily wage earner who sold lottery tickets went missing on September 26, her sister filed a complaint with the Kadavanthra police in Kochi the following day.
Her family has been staying in Kerala since they were informed about her death hoping to obtain her mortal remains to perform the last rites in their native Errappatti village of Pennagaram taluk in Dharmapuri district.
"Me and my relatives have been staying in Ernakulam (Kerala) since September 27. We have not been given her body which is still in the Kottayam Medical College Hospital. Here, there's no food to eat, no accommodation and no one to help us," Selvaraj said.
Padma, who had been the sole breadwinner for her family, was murdered in the last week of September while the other victim Rosli was killed in June.
The accused Shafi alias Rasheed of Perumbavur in Ernakulam and a couple Bhagaval Singh and Laila of Elanthoor confessed to the police about committing the murder.
"Already, we have been staying in Kerala for the last one month. The little money we had in hand dwindled and we are finding it difficult to manage without work," Selvaraj said.
"How long will it take to hand over my mother's body. Here, we have no money because there's no work. I humbly request you to intervene and ensure we obtain our mother's body without further delay," Selvaraj said in identical letters addressed to M K Stalin (Tamil Nadu Chief Minister) and Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala Chief Minister) on Saturday.
With PTI inputs