Post-funeral, Arjun’s family comes out against lorry owner Manaf, alleging him of spreading lies

Kozhikode: Just a few days ago, the entire state mourned the loss of Arjun, a resident of Kannadikkal, Kozhikode, who tragically died in a landslide in Shirur, Karnataka. On September 28, hundreds gathered at Arjun's home to bid him a tearful farewell, emotions running high on that sorrowful day.

However, on Wednesday, Arjun's family publicly accused Manaf, the owner of the lorry he drove, of attempting to exploit the situation for personal gain. They expressed sincere gratitude towards the media and government for their support during this difficult time but criticized Manaf for allegedly engaging in a misleading campaign against them. Jithin, Arjun’s brother-in-law, claimed that Manaf has been spreading false information, including the assertion that Arjun earned a salary of Rs. 75,000.

“The search operations were incredibly challenging due to the hostile weather conditions. Kozhikode MP MK Raghavan and Manjeshwar MLA AKM Ashraf, along with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, stood by us. AKM Ashraf even met with Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, along with Karwar MLA Satish Krishna Sail, to demand the deployment of dredgers to continue the search in the deep Gangavali River,” Jithin said.

“Now, we have learned that Manaf is trying to take advantage of the situation by exploiting the emotions surrounding Arjun's death. Following his remarks made on a YouTube channel, our family is facing harassment on social media. The claim that Arjun had a salary of Rs. 75,000 has led to a flurry of cyber attacks against us, painting us as exploiters of his labor and accusing us of taking his money,” the family stated.

“We are aware that fundraising efforts in Arjun’s name have been made, but we have not accepted any money from anyone. We do not need such support. The government has provided for Arjun’s wife and son to ensure a stable life, and our family will continue to support them. Currently, we have no financial constraints. While we do face some challenges, like many families in the state, we do not need to beg for financial assistance,” they added.

Meanwhile, Manaf, who received considerable attention and praise from the public during the search efforts, stated that he has no intention of maligning Arjun’s family. “Whatever they say, they will always be my family. I have not collected any funds in Arjun’s name,” Manaf asserted.