The suicide bid of Kausalya has come as a shock for her in-laws, who claimed that they had no clue that she would resort to such an act. Kausalya’s brother-in-law Vigneswaran (20), a college-goer, told The Hindu that she used to be alone at home, while he and his brother Yuvaraj used to stay at a relative’s place nearby.
Vignesh recalled that last week she was found missing and police guarding the house found her in tears at the crematorium where Shankar’s body was cremated.
“She used to be depressed and used to cry and did not share much with others,” he said and adds that his family respected her privacy though they stayed in a single room house.
“Father (Velusamy) used to sleep in front of the house. I and my brother used to stay at a relative’s place nearby. On Wednesday night, I had dinner and went to sleep. On returning home around 7 a.m. on Thursday, she told me that she consumed poison at 10 in the night. She even vomited a couple of times in the house,” he said.
Vignesh immediately alerted the four police personnel who have been posted at the house since the murder of her husband and bid on her life by her relatives.
The girl was immediately rushed to the Udumalpet government hospital by taxi. “We did not ask her reason for the incident as we already knew it,” he said.
Velusamy had gone to the shop for a cup of tea.
On returning home, he was alarmed to see the crowd at his house. “But for representatives of various political parties who used to come home, and a couple of our women relatives she has isolated herself,” he said.
After interacting with the Kausalya, Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan told newsmen that he advised the girl not to take such extreme steps as it will give a chance for her relatives to celebrate as their purpose (of taking the lives of the couple) will be fulfilled.
Mr. Ramakrishnan, who met her in the hospital in March, said that she was confident and that her suicide bid has come as a shock.
“She should be given counselling to help her overcome the traumatic experience,” he said and added that they extended support to her and asked her not to resort to such steps.
Representatives of a few other organisations also counselled her.
