Congress and CPM offer to build house for Nithin Raj's family

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Both the Congress and the CPM have come forward to build a house for the family of R. L. Nithin Raj, who committed suicide after facing caste-based abuse at the Dental College in Anjarakandy. Nithin's family is currently living in a rented house. As part of the first step, the Congress handed over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh through V S Sivakumar, the UDF candidate in Aruvikkara. Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan assured the family that the house would be built at the earliest.

The house will be constructed on six cents of land allotted by the panchayat. The remaining funds will be provided once construction begins. For legal assistance to ensure justice for the family, AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal has appointed advocates Ubaid Khan and B. Jayachandran Nair.

Meanwhile, CPM leaders, including district acting secretary A A Rahim, Minister V Sivankutty, and MLA G Stephen, announced that the foundation stone for the house will be laid on the 19th. CPM state secretary M V Govindan will lay the foundation stone at 5 PM. The party stated that, as per the family’s wish, the house will be built at Kunnunada, where Nithin was laid to rest. The construction will be carried out jointly by CPM’s Vilappil and Vithura area committees.

Family raises concern over investigation
The family has expressed concern that the investigation may be limited to a loan app angle. Nithin’s sister Nikhitha said they will not allow the case to be reduced to claims that a loan app led to his death.

“He did not end his life because of a loan app. We will fight until we get justice. If attempts are made to hide the truth by blaming a loan app, we will not remain silent. God is watching everything. If not today, those responsible will face the consequences tomorrow,” she said.

She added that the family was aware of the loan and had been repaying it. “There was no situation that forced him to take such a step because of a loan. We have proof of the loan, and there are no other loans in his name,” she said.