The Malayalee community in the UAE is in shock after a young female political figure from Kasargod district, in the south Indian state of Kerala, died in a freak accident in Sharjah.
The deceased, Sunitha Prashanth, 40, first fell on the road from a moving car and then hit an electric post, community sources told Gulf News.
While she died on the spot, her four women colleagues in the car suffered injuries when the car hit the road divider after Sunitha’s fall, said Ganesh Aramanganam, president of Indian People’s Forum in Sharjah.
Hailing from Adukkathvayal fishermen’s village, Sunitha was an active worker of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before she came over to Sharjah to work as a beautician five years ago, he said.
“She was the municipal councilor in 2011. The same year she had contested as the BJP candidate in the Kerala Legislative Assembly election from Udma constituency,” said Aramanganam.
Later, he said, Sunitha migrated to the UAE financially support her family.
While her two children — son aged 17 and daughter aged 14 — live with her husband Prashanth’s parents, Prashanth had just come over here on a three-month visit visa to look for a job.
“He is staying with friends in Dubai as Sunitha was staying with the owner and other staff members of the beauty parlour she works for,” said Aramanganam.
“The accident happened when all these five women went for a long drive to Al Dhaid on Tuesday night after work. They had decided to roam around for a few hours since they could not enter their flat in Abu Shagara after they did pest control over there.”
It is not clear how the car door opened.
He said the owner of the salon, who was driving the car, is now in police custody.
“She also had suffered minor injuries after the car hit the road divider. A Nepalese woman, who sustained a head injury, is in hospital.”
He said the community members, especially those from Kasargod were in shock after the news of Sunitha’s tragic death spread.
“Hers is a known face as she was active in politics. Everybody is shocked and sad that she met with such an unfortunate and untimely end.”
He said efforts to send her mortal remains back home were going on and a condolence meeting would be held after the repatriation.
Dhaid Police are investigating the case. Gulf News could not immediately reach the police for comments. (Gulfnews)