The family members of a woman who had committed suicide in Chintadripet on Monday claimed that she had taken the extreme step owing to harassment by the police personnel belonging to the local station.
However, a senior police officer denied the allegation.
Padmavathi (42) ended her life by setting herself on fire near her house in NN Nagar, Chintadripet on Sunday after some policemen visited her house for inquiring with her son. She succumbed to burns at the Government Kilpauk Hospital on Monday. Before her death, she had made certain allegations against the police personnel who had visited her house for the inquiry.
In a complaint to the City Police Commissioner, the family said that Chintadripet Police had opened history sheets against Mohan (53), his wife Padmavathi (42) and their son Pradeep (19).
‘All cases foisted’
The family claimed that all cases were foisted on them and Pradeep had been booked more than 10 times. They said the local police station had been harassing them for the last eight years.
They were also facing a case in connection with the violence after the jallikattu protests.
Hence, the family said they had shifted their residence after letting out their house for rent.
The family alleged that the police personnel who had come in search of Pradeep had ransacked the material kept in the adjacent building constructed by them for playing carrom. Padmavathi was threatened by the police when she reached there. Following their threats, she had taken the extreme step. The family urged the Commissioner to book a criminal case against these police personnel.
‘Woman not threatened’
Denying that the woman was threatened, a senior police officer said, “Our police personnel went to interrogate Pradeep who has many cases against him. The entire family is facing cases. Since the deceased levelled certain allegations against the police personnel, Assistant Commissioner of Police will conduct an investigation. An inquiry proceeding under 174 Criminal Procedure Code is under way.”
A large number of police personnel were deployed around the Chintadripet police station and the hospital following protests by the woman’s relatives.
People in need of counselling can contact the State Health Department’s round-the-clock helpline – 104.
The Chennai-based Sneha suicide prevention centre can be contacted at 044-24640050.
