Collector Orders Probe into Elderly Man’s Body Found Outside Arimpur Home

quick Summary:

• District Collector Arjun Pandian has initiated an inquiry into the incident involving Thomas, a 79-year-old man whose body was left outside his house in Arimpur after his son allegedly locked the house and left, refusing to accept the body.
• Thomas and his wife Rosily had been living in separate shelter homes due to alleged harassment by their son and daughter-in-law. A complaint was lodged with Anthikkad police eight months ago.
• After Thomas died reportedly from a fever-related illness, his body was brought back home for public viewing and prayers but remained outside for several hours as his son refused to let it inside or participate.
• Relatives and local residents were forced to keep the body in the courtyard until funeral arrangements were made at St. Theresa’s Ship Church, Eravu.
• Thomas’s wife Rosily arrived with their daughter after hearing the news and stayed throughout.
• Despite multiple efforts by relatives and police to contact Jaison (Thomas’s son), there was no response.
• The District Collector has directed the Social Justice Officer to submit a detailed report on this episode.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

This heartbreaking incident highlights pressing issues around elder care responsibilities within familial structures in India. Instances of alleged harassment or neglect toward elderly parents raise significant concerns regarding social values tied to caregiving responsibilities. While legal frameworks such as complaints under social justice departments exist, cases like these underline gaps in enforcement or community-level intervention mechanisms.

The inquiry ordered by the District Collector will be pivotal not only for understanding individual accountability but also for assessing systemic responses from law enforcement agencies and welfare departments handling elderly issues. Long-term implications may include increased focus on awareness campaigns about filial obligations or reforms enhancing shelter home protocols for vulnerable seniors.

Ultimately, this event invites broader societal introspection into how families handle disputes while safeguarding dignity during life’s final stages.

[Published – July 25, 2025 08:23 pm IST]