By Twocircles.net Staff Reporter
Malappuram: On Monday, Malappuram press club witnessed a rare function where the family of Arjunan Athimuthu, a Tamil man, received Rs. 25 lakh from IUML state president Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal. The money was collected from a handful of benefactors in order to save Athimuthu from Thanjavur, who was sentenced to death after a court in Kuwait convicted him for murdering Abdul Wajid from Malappuram in 2013. Both Athimuthu and Wajid were working together in a company and Wajid was killed in September 2013 following a fight between the duo.
Wajid’s family demanded Rs 30 lakh as blood money and agreed to forgive Athimuthu if the amount is given.
The fund was raised by Muslim Youth League state president Syed Munawwar Ali Shihab Thangal and his friends after Athimuthu’s wife approached Munawwar Ali for help.
Munawwar Ali’s friends including NRI businessman from Pattarkadavu Khairu Raheem raised the amount within few days after a request was extended by MYL leader.
Malati approached Munawwar Ali on November 21, after she managed to raise only Rs 5 lakh after selling her property and receiving help from her husband’s friends.
Munawwar Ali said the contribution reflects the spirit of Malappuram. He congratulated the kind-hearted contributors, saying, “We are saving not only a precious human life from a certain death, but also spreading a message of humanity.”
As per Kuwait laws, a convict on death row can be released if the family of the victim agrees to it.