MADURAI: A 49-year-old mother of three died at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai on Tuesday while undergoing treatment after allegedly consuming poison following harassment by moneylenders demanding usurious interest on a Rs 2 lakh loan. Her relatives staged a road blockade outside the hospital, refusing to receive her body until all those allegedly responsible were arrested.
The deceased was identified as Prema, wife of Rajaram, a daily wage labourer from Keelathoppu in Sellur. Rajaram alleged that Prema had borrowed Rs 2 lakh at 4 per cent monthly interest from her friend Selva Kalaiyarasi of Sikkandarchavadi in 2021 to meet the marriage expenses of their elder daughter.
"My wife paid Rs 1.5 lakh as interest. However, Kalaiyarasi did not reduce even a single rupee from the principal amount," Rajaram told reporters.
Rajaram alleged that Kalaiyarasi later borrowed Rs 2 lakh from Thiruppathi on behalf of Prema, telling her that she need not repay Kalaiyarasi and should instead repay Thiruppathi with 4 per cent monthly interest. Thiruppathi was known to both of them. "My wife had no other option but to agree to Kalaiyarasi's proposal," he said.
Prema, who worked at a flower shop, began paying interest to Thiruppathi. However, he later demanded 10 per cent monthly interest on the principal amount. "My wife borrowed money from friends and relatives and paid Rs 20,000 every month as interest to him," Rajaram claimed.
However, due to ill health, Prema was unable to pay the interest for the past three months.
Rajaram alleged that on July 13, Thiruppathi, Selva Kalaiyarasi and two others came to their house and threatened the family while demanding payment. He further alleged that they later confronted Prema at the flower shop where she worked in Nelpettai, verbally abused and humiliated her, and that Thiruppathi attempted to pull her sari in full public view.
Unable to bear the alleged harassment, Prema consumed pesticide at her workplace on July 13 and collapsed. She was rescued by neighbours and admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital, where she died while undergoing treatment.
Rajaram alleged that although he immediately lodged a complaint with the local police, no action was taken. He claimed that the Vilakkuthoon police registered a case only after he approached the Madurai City Commissioner of Police. A police source said investigators had examined CCTV footage from an ATM near the area, which proved that the usurers harassed Prema.
Following her death, Prema's family members and relatives gathered outside the hospital mortuary and staged a road blockade, demanding the arrest of all those allegedly responsible for her death. The protest disrupted traffic for about 30 minutes before police diverted vehicles.
Police officials assured the protesters that the investigation was progressing and informed them that Selva Kalaiyarasi had been arrested and that the remaining accused would also be apprehended. Following the assurance, the relatives withdrew the protest and received the body for the last rites.