College lecturer, father commit suicide

Tirunelveli: A private college lecturer and his father allegedly committed suicide in front of the college over it’s decision to postpone regularisation of his service pending dispute with his newly married wife.

Police said Keerthi Asir (29) and his father Israevel (55) of Alakudi near Sri Vaikuntam allegedly consumed some pesticide they had brought with them and fainted.

Though locals rushed them to the High Ground Hospital at Palayamkottai, they died without responding to treatment.

Police said Asir had married one Sukanya, also a college lecturer at Seranmadevi. She had filed a dowry harassment complaint, and an investigation was underway.

Asir met the college management on March 3 after being asked to do so over regularisation of his service.

They asked him to first resolve the dispute with his wife before attending an interview for regularisation of service tomorrow, police said.

Following this, the two allegedly committed suicide.

However the college management said that they were not responsible for the extreme step taken by Asir and his father and that it might be due to a family dispute.

—PTI