Farmer electrocuted by illegal electric fence near Kadaladi

A farmer died after being electrocuted by a fence set up for crops near Kadaladi here on Monday.

Police said, Palani, 38, son of Chellam, resided in Kathanenthal village near Kovilangulam in the Kamuthi union of Ramanathapuram district.

A farmer by profession, he had cultivated sorghum (cholam), a small millet, in his field.

On Monday morning, as usual, when Palani went to his field, he stepped on the fence of a neighbouring field. He was immediately electrocuted.

Since the Malattar river flows near the Kathanenthal area, the police said, the menace of wild boars and deer was high. Because of this, it is said that a nearby chili farmer had installed a wire at the bottom of the fence and connected electricity to it.

The Kovilangulam police recovered Palani’s body and sent it to the Kadaladi Government Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

In this situation, his relatives and villagers engaged in a protest on the Sayalgudi road in Kadaladi, demanding government relief for the family of the deceased Palani and a government job for his wife.

Due to this, traffic was affected for one hour. Subsequently, the road blockade was withdrawn after Mudukulathur DSP Shanmugam and Kadaladi Tahsildar Paramasivam gave assurances that action would be taken.