CHERTHALA: Protest is brewing in the incident of a woman committing suicide just moments after the cooperative bank management committee members and employees reached her house demanding loan repayment. Congress has come out against SL Puram Service Co-operative Bank, controlled by CPM.

Mararikulam North Panchayat 10th Ward Karuvalli Sudhir's wife Asha (45) hanged herself inside her house at 10.30 am on 23rd December. Asha's husband took a loan of Rs 1 lakh from the bank in 2010 to construct a house. The loan payment was irregular and by 2021, the loan amount reached two and a half lakh rupees including interest. At present, the family needs to pay Rs 2,13,000 to clear all dues.

On 23rd December, the members of the bank's management committee and employees went to the houses in the area as part of a clearing arrears drive. They also visited Sudhir’s house. Sudhir, a construction worker, was not at home at the time. The bank officials returned after asking Asha to repay the loan. Soon after the incident, Asha was found hanging.

At this time, only the mother-in-law was at home. Asha was an employee of a private firm. She leaves behind her children, Adityan and Anagha.

AICC General Secretary K.C.Venugopal MP blamed bank officials for threatening and pushing Asha to suicide. He asked police to voluntarily take a case for abetting suicide.