TN man dies in Poland, family alleges murder, knocks MEA door

CHENNAI:THE family of a 25-yearold electrician from Tamil Nadu who was working in Poland is claiming that he has been murdered, and have sought the help of Union ministry of external affairs (MEA) to retrieve the body and also ensure justice. Mine 2 Closed Mine 1 Active

LYTEIN RIVER

P Venkatesan of Sambasivapuram in Vellore district went to Poland in November 2017 through a Chennai based placement and travel agency to work as an electrician at a private hotel chain in Warsaw, according to his family members.

“As we did not receive any phone calls from Venkatesan since Sunday, we rushed to the Chennai-based private placement agency, which facilitated in him getting the job. On Monday they said that he was slightly injured and was taking rest. We insisted that they show us his latest photographs. They informed us later in the night that he had died. Since the placement agency says that Venkatesan had injuries on his body, we believe this was a murder. However the agency is washing its hands of the matter saying its role ended after placement,” said S Pichandi the deceased’s uncle.

The family has now approached the Tamil Nadu police, the collector of Vellore and the ministry of external affairs seeking assistance in retrieving his body and in also getting the full details on how and why he died.

The family, which suspects foul play also is demanding justice.

The Vellore district administration authorities said they have forwarded details of the case, including necessary documents, to the MEA and they are coordinating with them to extend further assistance to the family.

“We don’t know if it was a murder or an accident. However, we are coordinating with MEA to get full facts and also to retrieve the body as requested by the family,” the Vellore collector, S A Raman, told media.