Kasargod: Murdered Youth Congress worker lived in this hut for 19 years

www.mangaloretoday.com

Kasaragod, Feb 20, 2019: Kripesh, one of the two Youth Congress workers killed at Kallyott, near Periya, on Sunday had an unrealised dream. He planned to build a house so that his family needn’t reside in a one-room shanty. Kripesh, his father, mother and sister had been living in this single-room thatched hut for the past 19 years. His elder sister also shared space with them in the shack before her marriage last year.

The family didn’t even have a ration card until recently as they awaited the title deed of the land which was received under the Tenancy Act only a year ago. The family had applied for a new house at the panchayat several times, but their applications were rejected.

Kripesh’s mother Balamani was talking about his dream until his body reached the hut on Monday. It didn’t even have a courtyard and an area in front of the house had to be cleared of bushes to lay him to rest.

All the family has is a single room that doubled up as their as their bedroom, living room and kitchen in the shanty that is standing on a red sandstone foundation. It has cow dung-plastered floors, and its walls and ceiling are made of coconut palm fronts. It is also the study room of Kripesh’s sister Krishnapriya who is a plus-two student.

In one corner, kitchen utensils are kept on two tables. There are two cots, an almirah and a small table where Krishnapriya’s books are kept. Since there is no more space inside, they had built a shed outside the house to store household stuff.

Kripesh’s father Krishnan is a painter. After discontinuing his education, Kripesh was working along with him for the past one year.

His friends recalled that Kripesh always wanted to build a house. They showed a two-year-old Facebook post of Kripesh, which said, "God hasn’t given me all that I desired. But I am sure that there is much more in store for me than what I have desired."

Courtesy: Malayala Manorama