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Tea-estate owner shoots himself, usury suspected
A tea estate owner shot himself dead near Kothagiri in Nilgiris on Wednesday morning. Eighty-year-old Bellie Raj from Aravenu Thinniyur village near Kothagiri returned from his walk around 7 am and went inside his room. “Shortly, his family members heard a gun shot. They rushed in and found Raj lying dead with a pistol in his hand,” police said.
By
migrator
migrator
Coimbatore
As news spread, villagers gathered in front of his house. Police had to be deployed to prevent untoward incidents. Superintendent of Police Murali Ramba visited the scene of crime and held inquiries.
The body of the deceased was sent for post-mortem to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH). His family members said that Raj appeared depressed and remained isolated over the last four days due to some problem in business.
Nilgiris district Tea Farmers Association Protest Committee president PS Bellan said that Raj could have ended his life due to usury menace.
“He met with a big loss and sold major shares of a private school owned by him to a Coimbatore based man. He had also taken a loan for interest and has been receiving threats from a politician based out of Erode. I suspect it to be the reason behind his suicide,” he said. However, the police are yet to confirm the reason behind the death.
Bellie Raj is survived by his wife Meenakshi, 70, three daughters and one son.
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