35 usury cases booked after app launch in Tirunelveli

According to officials, there was very good response in the first week and 72 complaints were registered. There were calls from across the state, they added. In the second week, there was a drastic reduction and the number was just 28.

In total, 100 complaints were registered in the helpline in the first fortnight, said the officials. All complaints were immediately forwarded to the Revenue officials and police department and the complaints were inquired independently, explained the officials.

Police sources said that out of 100 complaints, eight cases were booked. Similarly, in the same period 27 cases were booked in various police stations based on the complaint received in the respective stations and in total 35 cases were booked against usury. Among the complaints Radhapuram and Ambasamudram registered the maximum of 13 complaints each followed by Kadayanallur and Palayamkottai with 11 and 10 complaints each. 

Speaking about the reduction in number of complaints Tirunelveli Collecto, Sandeep Nanduri said that the numbers could have reduced as swift action had been taken in all cases. 

After the shocking death of four persons of a family inside Tirunelveli Collectorate reportedly due to the menace of usury as many as 35 cases were registered in Tirunelveli district in the past two weeks.

Esakimuthu, a daily wage earner, along with his wife and his two children, from Kasidharmam village, had committed suicide by setting themselves ablaze and the menace of usury was attributed to be the reason for the incident.

A 29-year-old woman attempted suicide by consuming poison at her residence in Alangulam in Tirunelveli district, on Tuesday. The victim identified as Thanga Pazham was a member of a self-help group in Alankulam. She had obtained a loan with their help but could not repay it. 

With the knowledge of her husband, Selvam, she had obtained a sum of Rs.30,000 for higher interest rate from a local financier. As she could not repay the loan amount on time, the private financier had visited her house on Monday evening and asked the money back. 

When she sought more time he had verbally abused her. Selvam, who came to know about the incident in the morning, had reprimanded Thanga Pazham. Unable to take it anymore, the woman consumed poison. She was immediately rushed to the Palayamkottai GH and she is now under treatment.