Chennai: At least 16 people committed suicide or died of cardiac arrest by Tamil Nadu after a special court in Bangalore convicted AIADMK supreme J Jayalalithaa in the case of assets 66.65 million rupees disproportionate Saturday and sentenced to four years imprisonment. Two people have been hospitalized with severe burns.
Police said three people were hanged, one committed suicide AIADMK supporter by self-immolation, a person ended his life by jumping in front of a bus and one person died after consuming poison after the court issued its verdict. Ten others died from cardiac arrest, apparently due to shock following the conviction of Jayalalithaa, said a police officer.
Two people, including a student of class 12, attempted self-immolation own and have been hospitalized with severe burns. Another ardent AIADMK cut his little finger in Tirupur.
Ironically, the Prime Minister in August had written a letter to a woman who attempted suicide after a government website in Sri Lanka carries a derogatory message about Jayalalithaa. He urged the women not to be overcome with emotion and asked him to understand that suicide is an act of cowardice.
Party leaders said the extreme reactions were testament to the popularity of Jayalalithaa but asked party supporters not to take the plunge.
Social welfare chairman and secretary of AIADMK women's wing CR Saraswathi said grief reactions, "shows the relationship people share" with Jayalalithaa. "Everyone in the state Amma looks like her mother," she said.
More than 16,600 people committed suicide in Tamil Nadu last year, most cases of suicide among all states except 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 for suicide, especially by self-immolation leader said a social scientist.
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 suicides in the state, compared to a national average of 7 3%. Experts have linked the phenomenon of culture and literature of the Tamil Nadu, in which many stories are about fire as a cleansing spirit, a form of protest or a statement of intent.
Police said Venkatesan, 58, a resident of Pratap Nagar in Valasaravakkam APN, Chennai, caught fire Saturday. He died in Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) on Sunday. A Jonasha, 19, a sophomore BA Trichy and Lakshmanan, 40, of Modakurichi near Erode, were hanged on Saturday night. A party supporter unidentified Sivaganga also hanged himself, police said.
Subramanian, 70, of Singampunari near Theni, ended his life by consuming poison. Nalayiram Party supporter, 48, of Pavoorchathiram near Tenkasi in Tirunelveli, was crushed after jumping in front of a moving bus on Saturday.
Class 12 students M Nagalakshmi, 17, set herself on fire near Madurai. She has been hospitalized with 80% burns. AIADMK supporter Balakrishnan, 52, set himself on fire at his home at 4 pm on Sunday. He has been admitted to the Government Hospital at Cuddalore with 65% burns.
Bhoopathy Tirupur 'Rettai Ilai' cut his little finger after hearing about the court's verdict, police said.
