Six orphans need your help, Najib told

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has urged premier Najib Abdul Razak to assist six children, whose father was found dead in police custody in 2007.

The children were orphaned when their grief-stricken mother, R Letchumy, committed suicide in February 2009.

Their father, K Letchumanan, had been found dead in a cell at the Raub police station on Dec 21, 2007. Police claimed that he had hanged himself with a blanket.

"I have spoken to Sarasvathy, who is Letchumanan's sister, and who is now taking care of the children on top of her own five children," said Hindraf Youth chief S Thiagarajan (centre in photo).

Sarasvathy is also taking care of the five children of her other brother, Chandran, who died last year.

The 16 children have to be fed and cared for on her meagre pay of RM900, which she earns as a cook, he said.

Thiagarajan said Hindraf is taking up the matter, following a report by Malay daily Kosmo on the family, and has submitted a letter to the Prime Minister's Office.

"We hereby call upon your good self to forthwith grant these two families and the estimated 500,000 Indian poor in similar predicament a permanent and meaningful solution, i.e. 10 acres of land ownership in (agriculture schemes)..." reads the letter in part.

Thiagarajan added that Hindraf representatives will visit Sarasvathy, who lives with the children in Kuala Lumpur.