Rajesh’s body treated with disrespect; Payyannur tahsildar suspended

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Payyannur Tahsildar K.P. Paul has been suspended over lapses in handling the body of Rajesh, a Thiruvananthapuram native who died while trying to rescue another person. Rajesh’s body was transported from Kannur without a freezer facility.

Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar directed the Land Revenue Commissioner to take action against the tahsildar based on a report submitted by the district collector.

The district administration had reached a preliminary conclusion on Wednesday that there were serious lapses in the arrangements made to transport Rajesh’s body.

Meanwhile, it also emerged that the tahsildar had allegedly demanded money to transport Rajesh’s body. The allegation triggered controversy and led to an inquiry into the incident. The Kannur collector submitted the inquiry report to the Revenue Minister on Thursday afternoon.

The report said there had been serious lapses and dereliction of duty on the part of the tahsildar.

Rajesh’s body, which had remained in the river for four days and had become bloated, was transported from Pariyaram Medical College to Thiruvananthapuram wrapped in a plastic sheet. It had not been embalmed. A regular ambulance was used to transport the body to the state capital.
The ambulance drivers were also instructed not to open the body after reaching the house.

When the stench became unbearable, the ambulance was stopped in front of Hayath Hospital in Chavakkad, Thrissur. The drivers then shifted the body to a facility with a freezer. The issue came to light after CCTV footage of the incident emerged.

Rajesh was caught in the disaster last Saturday while taking part in a rescue operation at Cherupuzha in Kannur. His body was recovered only on Tuesday.

Rajesh had rescued a person trapped on a sandbar by swimming across the fast-flowing river and removing his own life jacket and giving it to the person. However, while swimming back, Rajesh lost his grip on the rope.

He was a rappelling instructor at Meenthulli Waterfalls and had voluntarily joined the rescue operation.