Kushal Kumar found the body of his 49-year-old father lying motionless and covered in mud on Saturday afternoon, a kilometre from his home in Daramu, Qelemumu outside of Labasa.

Kushal had gone looking for his father after his dad had not returned from tying up his farm’s bullocks.

After contacting Police, officers cornered off the area and had to leave the body of the late Newal Kumar, at the scene overnight until Forensics arrived from Suva yesterday to conduct their investigation.

Mr Kumar’s family is still reeling from the death of their father and were too emotional to speak to the media.

However, the deceased’s older brother Pravin Kumar, said he was in disbelief when he received a phone call on Saturday afternoon informing him of his brother’s death.

“We came straight away to find out what really happened to my brother,” Mr Kumar said.

“We can’t believe anything of such nature could have happened to our brother who is always quiet and friendly.”

Mr Pravin Kumar said while he and his siblings left to find greener pastures, his brother stayed and cared for the 40-acre land where they grew up in, where his brother grew vegetables and sold at the Labasa market, cane farm and raised livestock.

He added that funeral would be held as soon as the Police release the body after the post mortem.

Police Spokesperson Ana Naisoro said the case has yet to be classified as they have to conduct a post mortem examination to determine the cause of death.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce 

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