Puttur worker dies at mill, body abandoned on road outside home

Puttur: A 69-year-old daily-wage labourer from Chikkamudnoor village died after falling ill at his workplace on Saturday, and his body was later dumped on the road in front of his house without informing his family. The deceased, Shivappa, a resident of Salmara Tarigudde, had been working at a mill owned by Henry Tauro in Salmara Tauro Industries.

According to the complaint filed by his daughter Usha, Tauro took Shivappa in a pickup truck to assist with plastering work at the mill. Shivappa fell seriously ill during the work and allegedly died on the premises. Instead of notifying the family, Tauro's driver transported the body back in the same pickup truck and left it on the road outside Shivappa's home.

Usha and her mother discovered the body there and, with help from neighbours, brought it inside the house. Usha lodged a complaint with Puttur police, leading to an investigation.

Following the incident, members of Dalit organisations gathered outside the Puttur Town police station to protest the inhumane treatment of the labourer and demanded action against Tauro. Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police Yathish N confirmed that the pickup truck driver has been arrested, while Tauro remains absconding. "The exact reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained, and prima facie negligence is seen on the part of the employer," Yathish said.

A postmortem examination later confirmed that Shivappa died of a heart attack. Police are continuing their search for Tauro as the investigation proceeds.

📰 Source: New Indian Express Mangalore