Kottayam: Though Suneesh’s request was unheard by the bicycle thieves, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan noticed it and took immediate action. On seeing the news of a bicycle theft, the Chief Minister directed Kottayam district collector M Anjana IAS to meet them. As soon as the Republic Day parade ended, the collector bought a new bicycle and gifted it to Suneesh's son at his residence in Urulikunnam.

‘Mathrubhumi’ had reported the story of Suneesh who worked hard despite physical challenges and bought a bicycle for his son. But the bicycle was stolen in a few days. With this, Suneesh put up a Facebook post requesting the thief to return the bicycle as it was a birthday gift for his son.

The post went viral in a short time and the Chief Minister intervened noticing the reports. The CM had also asked to conduct a detailed investigation into the incident in which the physically challenged man and his family were put in crisis.

Following this, collector M Anjana directed the district police chief to probe into the theft case. The collector also appreciated ‘Mathrubhumi’ for reporting the story of Suneesh. Suneesh and son Jestin are happy as they got a new bicycle with the intervention of the Chief Minister.

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Kottayam collector giving cycle to Jestin
Kottayam collector giving bicycle to Jestin

Suneesh said that many people including NRIs had offered to get them new bicycle. 35-year-old Suneesh Joseph, wife Jini and children a class 4 student Jestin and class 1 student Jestiya reside in a small house near Paika-Chengalam in Kottayam.

Suneesh's both legs are bent backwards and right arm is completely immobile since birth. He had never sat on a chair in life. He cannot even lie on his back and always lie on his stomach. He moves with the strength of his left hand alone.

However, Suneesh manages to survive with the earning from a common service centre set up on PP Road for the last 5 years. His friends take him to office in a car and drops at home in the evening. As he cannot sit on chair in the office, Suneesh lies on a custom-made sofa and operates the laptop.