‘Blood money’ arranged by a Muslim saved Arjunan from death

Malappuram: Sayed Munawwarali Shihab Thangal, younger son of former Indian Union Muslim League chief Sayed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal, saved two families by helping in arranging ‘Blood money’. Going deep into the story, Arjunan Athimuthu, 45, a construction worker from Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu, is convicted of killing fellow worker Abdul Wajid, a labourer from Kerala’s Malappuram district. The incident happened in September 2013. Both of them were working in Kuwait. Arjunan was given sentenced to death in Kuwait, and, as per the Kuwaiti law, the convict can be granted reprieve from capital punishment if the victim’s family pardons him. Abdul Majid’s family accepted to pardon but demanded Rs. 30 lakh as ‘blood money’. Both the families belong to poor economic background. Malathi, wife of Arjunan, was unable to raise funds to save her husband. Then she approached young member of the Kodappanakkal Sayed Shihab family in Panakkad, near Malappuram for help. Sayed Munawwarali Shihab responded immediately and raised Rs 30 lakh in a matter of hours with his contacts.