Countering criticism over their handling of the case of Ashram sisters, top police officials have stated they did not evict the sisters forcefully from the apartment of Sri Aurobindo Ashram. On December 9, the Supreme Court passed the order directing the sisters to vacate the said premises within seven days and said if they would fail to do so, the court directed the All Mahila Police Station to evict the sisters from the premises.
The order was received by Station House Officer on December 11. By this time, the aggrieved sisters had submitted a representation to the Chief Minister, asking him to see that the order was not executed.
The government was also exploring alternative accommodation for the sisters in two places.
On December 15, the sisters sent a letter to the trustees of the Ashram stating that they would end their lives if the police tried to evict them. The chairperson of Puducherry Women Commission also was requested in writing to intervene and counsel them on December 16.
“We had to appear on the scene only when one of the sisters climbed on a water tank and demanded an undertaking from the Ashram trustees to not vacate them and to retain all facilities for members.
Later, all the sisters were brought to the police station. We did not forcefully evict them from the apartment,” said the senior police officer. Subsequently counselling was held in the presence of protection officers of Child Welfare Department.
Another police officer said that one of the police officers had even offered his house as an alternative accommodation.
The five sisters agreed to co-operate and execute the order and gave in writing that they had voluntarily vacated the Ashram taking all their belongings.
They vacated the premises at 6.15 pm and left for their parents’ house on Captain Marie Street.
The sisters had assured the SP North that they would meet him the next day at 10 a.m. “Contrary to all their assurance, they decided to sacrifice their lives.”
The senior police officer added that the sisters are deeply attached to the Ashram.
Being devotees of Sri Aurobindo, they consider it as their right to live there and enjoy the facilities there.
That made it tough for us to convince them to leave the Ashram. From the beginning, we extended all assistance to the sisters,” said the officer.
The police official added that the survivors are likely to be referred to the National Institute of Mental Science for further psychological trauma therapy.
