16 die as TN reels under verdict

29 September 2014 01:22 pm - 19 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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CHENNAI: At least 16 people committed suicide or died of cardiac arrest across Tamil Nadu after a special court in Bangalore convicted AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa in the 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case on Saturday and sentenced her to four years in prison. Two people have been hospitalized with severe burns.

Police said three people hanged themselves, one AIADMK supporter committed suicide by self-immolation, one person ended his life by jumping in front of a bus and one person died after consuming poison after the court pronounced its verdict. Ten others died of cardiac arrest, apparently due to shock after Jayalalithaa's conviction, a police officer said.

Two people, including a Class 12 student, attempted self-immolation self and have been hospitalised with severe burns. Another ardent AIADMK supporter chopped off his little finger in Tirupur.

Ironically, the chief minister had in August written a letter to a woman who attempted to kill herself after a Sri Lankan government website carried a derogatory post on Jayalalithaa. She urged the woman not to be overcome with emotion and asked her to understand that suicide is an act of cowardice.

Party leaders said the extreme reactions were testimony to Jayalalithaa's popularity but called on party supporters not to take the step.

Social welfare board chairperson and AIADMK women's wing deputy secretary C R Saraswathi said the reactions of grief "shows the relationship people share" with Jayalalithaa. "Everyone in the state sees Amma as their mother," she said.

More than 16,600 people killed themselves in Tamil Nadu last year, the most cases of suicide among all states with the exception of Maharashtra. In a state where political leaders and film stars are larger than life, it is not uncommon for people to react to a setback to a leader by committing suicide, especially by self-immolation, a social scientist said.

Of the 16,601 cases of suicide in Tamil Nadu in 2013 more than 2,000 were by self-immolation - the most painful way to die - or 12.6% of all cases of suicide in the state, as compared to a nationwide average of 7.3%. Experts have linked the phenomenon to Tamil Nadu's culture and literature, in which numerous stories treat fire as a cleansing spirit, a form of protest or as a statement of intent.

Police said Venkatesan, 58, a resident of APN Pratap Nagar in Valasaravakkam, Chennai, set himself ablaze on Saturday. He died at Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) on Sunday. A Jonasha, 19, a second-year BA student of Trichy, and Lakshmanan, 40, of Modakurichi near Erode, hanged themselves on Saturday night. An unidentified party supporter in Sivaganga also hanged himself, police said.

Subramanian, 70, of Singampunari near Theni, ended his life by consuming poison. Party supporter Nalayiram, 48, of Pavoorchathiram near Tenkasi in Tirunelveli, was crushed after he jumped in front of a moving bus on Saturday.

Class 12 student M Nagalakshmi, 17, set herself ablaze near Madurai. She has been hospitalised with 80% burns. AIADMK supporter Balakrishnan, 52, set himself on fire in his house at 4pm on Sunday. He has been admitted to Government Hospital in Cuddalore with 65% burns.

'Rettai Ilai' Bhoopathy of Tirupur chopped off his little finger after hearing about the court verdict, police said. (Source: Times of India)

Comments - 19

Nai Hamine Monday, 29 September 2014 03:56 PM

You are a communal person. People of your type are a shame for human race!!

Empulze Tuesday, 30 September 2014 11:53 AM

kohey geniyanda hamba karau ewada daney na via DM Android App

sk Tuesday, 30 September 2014 04:14 AM

You are an idiot.

SAM_SPARROW Tuesday, 30 September 2014 04:14 AM

That is called loyalty.

Harsha Tuesday, 30 September 2014 07:22 AM

What a set back for Jayalalitha s party.Hope and pray that TNA will not do the same via DM Android App

Sammy Tuesday, 30 September 2014 01:35 AM

So it would be with the Sinhalese as well!

Ane apoi Tuesday, 30 September 2014 06:48 AM

I wish all of these dont have families to protect. .... via DM Android App

The counsellor Tuesday, 30 September 2014 12:44 AM

[quote name="Dhanushka"]Good less tamils in the world the better it is via DM Android App[/quote]

Your a funny guy, do you know the population of Tamils in the world? Extremists like you should be castrated.

Phantom Tuesday, 30 September 2014 12:43 AM

They were all probably tiger sympathizers in dire straits without their Godmother!

gobbaya Tuesday, 30 September 2014 03:38 AM

what a bunch of losers via DM Android App

citizen Monday, 29 September 2014 07:28 PM

will it happen in Sri Lanka people will light crackers via DM Android App

Public Monday, 29 September 2014 09:22 PM

Only 16 We thought the whole of Tamil Nadu population supported the fatty. God blast the rest.

mount Monday, 29 September 2014 09:03 PM

If you like or love even a tree when it got in trouble you will feel. Like that when people love their leaders like TAMILNADU IRON LADY JAYA ...

Dhanushka Monday, 29 September 2014 08:37 PM

Good less tamils in the world the better it is via DM Android App

Inflator Monday, 29 September 2014 08:16 PM

Unbelievable...These people are just crazy.... via DM Android App

channa Monday, 29 September 2014 02:45 PM

Country of fools , what can you expect from these idiots no value for life. The danger is they are just next to our country.

dalubanda Monday, 29 September 2014 02:36 PM

Is this because she has robbed public money?

chaney Monday, 29 September 2014 08:04 PM

shows how shallow minded these people are no wonder the TN politicians use their people as puppets via DM Android App

ABC Monday, 29 September 2014 07:31 PM

Mother (Amma) of trouble via DM Android App

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16 die as TN reels under verdict

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