Councillor slits wrist in front of Mayor

The city Corporation office on Thursday was in a grip of shock for some hours when Congress Councillor C.S. Sathyabhama, slit her wrist in front of the Mayor.

Congress councillor of Kozhikode Corporation C.S. Sathyabhama being shifted to the government medical college hospital on Thursday after she attempted to commit suicide in front of the Mayor in Kozhikode. — Photo: K. Ragesh

The city Corporation office on Thursday was in a grip of shock for some hours when Congress Councillor C.S. Sathyabhama, who was in news in 2012 for flinging a cup at Mayor A.K. Premajam during a council meeting, slit her wrist in front of the Mayor.

Ms. Sathyabhama, representing Athanikkal ward of the Corporation, had gone to meet the Mayor concerning certain issues in the ward. She was reportedly disappointed at the local body’s response to requests for road works in her ward.

On Thursday, she got into a rage outside the Mayor’s chamber, and then slit her wrist using a blade she was carrying with her.

Rushed to hospital She was immediately shifted to the General Hospital on Kozhikode Beach and later to the Government Medical College, Kozhikode, where she is recuperating.

Doctors say her condition is not serious.

The police have registered a case against her for attempting suicide.

In the afternoon The incident happened at around 1.45 p.m. on Thursday when Mayor A.K. Premajam was returning to her chamber after lunch.

“Councillor Sathyabhama was waiting for me outside my chamber. As I went near, she came towards me and shouted ‘Won’t you allow the works in my ward?’ and cut her wrist using a blade which was in her possession. We did not even have a conversation. I was quite stunned, someone attempting suicide right before me. I made arrangements to move her to the hospital. I then called up Leader of Opposition M.T. Padma and filled in the details. She spoke as if I was unapproachable. I feel everything was pre-planned”, the Mayor says.

But the opposition councillors allege that the Mayor is responsible for instigating the suicide through her behaviour towards the councillor.

View of Opposition “Ms. Sathyabhama had brought in the issue of a road that goes by her home many times in the council. The road was at a low level and some CPI(M) members had filled it with mud. Now, the road is so muddy and unmotorable. The local people had been complaining to her about this road for a long time. She presented the issue in the council, but there was no favourable response. Finally, she complained to the Ombudsman, who ordered to have the issue solved in two months. Every other day, Sathyabhama was trying to keep up with the progress. The delay in adhering to the Ombudsman order frustrated her”, says Leader of Opposition M.T. Padma.

She says not just Sathyabhama but many other councillors too have similar experiences from the Mayor.