MADURAI
V. Gajapriya, 26, wife of T. Vivekanandakumar, 40, who was killed on falling from the motorbike he was riding after an unidentified policeman allegedly beat him with a lathi near MGR Bridge across the Vaigai, attempted to commit suicide by hanging at her house at S. Alangkulam here on Tuesday.
Police said the relatives of the woman broke open the door behind which she hanged herself at 6.15 a.m. and rushed her to Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH), where she had been admitted to the intensive care unit. She had an 18-month-old boy.
Vivekanandakumar, along with one A. Saravanakumar, was intercepted by a police team that was checking vehicles at MGR Bridge-Vaigai South Bank Road junction on Saturday night.
Saravanakumar claimed that a policeman beat Vivekanandakumar with a lathi as he did not stop after the police signalled him to do so. Vivekanandakumar lost control of the vehicle and both of them fell on the road. They were admitted to the GRH, where Vivekanandakumar died on Sunday evening.
However, the police claimed that no policeman hit Vivekanandakumar with a lathi. Vivekanandakumar, in an attempt to escape from the police, tried to speed away and the motorbike skidded, leading to their fall.
The relatives of Vivekanandakumar had refused to receive the body after the post-mortem.
Later in the day, the family members of Vivekanandakumar submitted a petition to Collector (in-charge) S. Shantha Kumar again, seeking immediate action against the ‘police personnel involved’.
According to them, Vivekanandakumar and Mr. Saravanakumar were stopped by the police. Mr. Saravanakumar said one police officer hit Vivekanandakumar with the lathi on his chest. Three other personnel stopped them from driving further, and two others egged on the officer to hit Vivekanandakumar.
Advocate S. Vanchinathan, who is representing the family said they had given a petition to the police and the Collector (in-charge) on Monday itself. “But action is yet to be taken,” he said, adding police investigation was one-sided from the beginning – starting with the registration of the first information report. “A new Investigating Officer has been appointed now. We hope things will change,” he said.
Ms. Gajapriya’s relative R. Bhaskar said she was in a critical condition.
“The family desperately needs compensation from the police and the victim’s wife needs a job. But first, she must remain alive,” said Mr. Vanchinathan.
Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on State’s health helpline 104 and Chennai-based Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.
