Lourdes Francis (45) was working as village officer of Murappanadu village in Srivaikundam Taluk, Thoothukudi district. Yesterday, when he was in his office at 12.30 noon, two men who came there attacked Lourdes with a hidden machete, killing him and fled.
The incident of the VAO being hacked to death inside the office shook Tamil Nadu. VAO Lourdes Francis was honest and brave. He was appreciated by all for working without any compromise in the protection of government assets including sand and mineral resources in the places where he has worked before and where he is currently working.
The murder took place after he lodged a complaint with the police regarding sand theft. Ramasubramanian and his cousin Marimuthu have been arrested in this connection.
The murder is a challenge for the police. The opposition blames the breakdown of law and order. This murder, which has been carried out to threaten honest and courageous government employees, is highly condemnable.
Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has condoled with Lourdes Francis and has ordered a relief of Rs.1 crore. He also informed that one of the family will be given a government job. Financial relief is not the only solution. The real respect that the government can pay to the deceased Lourdes Francis is to finish the murder case of Lourdes Francis quickly and get the culprits due punishment and to stop the looting of mineral resources including sand in Tamil Nadu.
In all parts of Tamil Nadu, the officials who are working in the field trying to stop the looting of mineral resources should be given due protection.
Lourdes Francis died protecting the country's mineral wealth. Hail to him!