Jalpaiguri civic volunteer dies in Kerala, family alleges lack of clarity

Surendra Kujur, a 35-year-old civic volunteer from Lakshikant Tea Garden’s Church Line in Dhupguri, Jalpaiguri, died under unclear circumstances while working in Kerala. Kujur had been employed under Dhupguri Police Station but left for Kerala six months ago, citing financial constraints. In Kerala, he worked in Ernakulam city as a laborer for a company involved in water supply projects.

According to his brother Amrit Kujur, Surendra had informed the family that his salary as a civic volunteer was insufficient to support their eight-member household, which includes their mother, two sisters, and other dependents. Seeking better earnings, he joined the company in Kerala. The family received a phone call on November 15 informing them that Surendra had passed away due to illness.

After receiving the news, family members traveled to Kerala on November 28 to gather more information about the incident. They visited his workplace and hospital but claimed they did not receive clear details regarding the cause of death. The family stated that they struggled to understand the situation and were not provided with any conclusive explanations by the company.

On December 3, Surendra’s body was brought back to Dhupguri in a coffin by his brother Amrit. The circumstances of his death remain unclear, and the family has raised concerns over the lack of transparency surrounding the incident. No additional details have been provided by the employer or authorities in Kerala or West Bengal.