DINDIGIUL
Tension gripped Dindigul and Theni Collectorates on Monday as five persons attempted to immolate themselves condemning “inaction of the police.”
In Dindigul, four persons, including a woman and her two children, attempted self-immolation at the Collectorate in the morning.
In the first incident, B. Jayanthi of Arasamarathupatti poured kerosene on her body and attempted to set herself on fire seeking action against a moneylender. The police personnel deployed at the place seized the kerosene can.
She was taken to Collector T.G. Vinay. In a petition submitted to the Collector, she said that she had borrowed ₹50,000 from a moneylender, Eswaran, three years ago after signing on a blank paper. Her sister Kavitha too signed on the blank paper as her surety.
Suddenly, Eswaran filed a case against them in a Theni court, demanding ₹3.5 lakh from Jayanthi and ₹2.5 lakh from Kavitha. Oddanchatram police did not take any action on the complaints lodged by the sisters against Eswaran, she said.
In another incident, Selvi of Moonandipatti near Vadamadurai, along with her two children, attempted self-immolation on the Collectorate campus demanding action against her father Subban who, she claimed, threatened her often. The police thwarted their attempt, and took them to the Collector.
In a petition submitted to the Collector, she said her father and relatives assaulted her and her children asking them to vacate her house. She was admitted to Dindigul Government Hospital for treatment. Then a gang threatened her at the hospital too, she said in her petition. Though she filed a complaint with the police, they did not take any action. The Collector forwarded the petitions to the officials concerned for necessary action.
Guruvammal (80) of Konampatti in Gandamanur union attempted to immolate herself at Theni Collectorate as “the police did not take any action against those who robbed her of cash and jewellery and forcibly sent her away from her house.”
Later, the police took her to the Collector’s office, where she submitted the petition. Collector Pallavi Baldev forwarded the petition to the officials concerned for action.
The State’s health helpline 104 provides anti-suicide counselling and Chennai-based Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline is 044-24640050.
