KATTAPPANA: A depositor committed suicide in front of the CPM-ruled Kattappana Rural Co-operative Society after the society refused to return his deposited funds. The deceased is Mulangassery native Sabu (56), who runs a shop at Pallikkavala in Kattappana. Sabu, who had deposited ₹25 lakh in the society, sought to withdraw funds on Thursday for his wife’s medical expenses. However, society employees reportedly denied his request and insulted him, pushing him into severe mental distress.

In his suicide note, Sabu mentioned that the employees had insulted him, pushed him, and spoken rudely, forcing him to leave. Following the protests by the locals, the body was taken for post-mortem to the Idukki Medical College six hours later.

Sabu was found hanging from the staircase leading to the cooperative society office at around 7:30 am on Friday. The body was discovered by the residents of the building. A suicide note was found in his pocket, which named the bank secretary Regi, and employees Binoy and Sujamol as responsible for his death.

Sabu's brother-in-law, Sunny, alleged that the cooperative society officials had threatened to file a case against Sabu for creating a ruckus at the office. Sabu's wife, Marykutty, was discharged from the hospital and brought back home yesterday evening by the relatives. The couple's children, Abin and Alan, are school-going students. The funeral will be held later.

Society has liability of 20 crores

• The society, which was ruled by the Congress in the past, has been ruled by the CPM for the last four years. The society is facing a liability of around Rs 20 crore due to loan defaults. Depositors have started withdrawing their funds in large numbers, and the repayments are being made in instalments.
• Sabu had deposited over Rs 50 lakh and was being repaid in instalments, with around Rs 12 lakh still pending. Society officials claimed they were repaying approximately Rs 1.25 lakh monthly.

Massive protest, police team deployed
Congress and BJP workers, along with Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, blocked the Thodupuzha-Puliyanmala state highway in front of the society. Traffic was disrupted for hours. In Kattappana town, a hartal was observed from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Youth Congress activists pulled down the society's boards as part of the protest. The body was later shifted to the hospital following the discussions between Peerumedu DySP Vishal Johnson, the protesters, and Sabu's relatives.