Tamil Nadu woman kills self after DMK workers deny gifts, assault her

TRICHY: A 25-year-old woman from Manachanallur in Trichy district died by suicide on Tuesday after she was allegedly abused and beaten by local DMK workers for demanding gift items. Police arrested six people on Wednesday.The victim, Sindhuja, from Vaazhaikattai village, was married to Prasanth, a driver, and has a daughter.According to district superintendent of police S Selvanagarathinam, around 7.30pm on Monday, DMK workers were distributing gift items to villagers as per party instructions. When Sindhuja approached and asked for the items, the group told her they were meant only for party members and their relatives. When Sindhuja replied that she would question the DMK candidate during vote canvassing, the group caught her by hair and dress, and beat her with a broomstick, he said. The next day, a distressed Sindhuja confronted her husband upon his return from work, accusing him of inaction. When Prasanth asked her to go to sleep and said they would handle it in the morning, she pushed him out, locked the door, and hanged herself, the SP said. Neighbours broke open the door and rushed her to a hospital, where she was declared brought dead.On Wednesday, her family and relatives blocked Trichy-Lalgudi Road, demanding strict action against perpetrators. Police pacified them. Subsequently, the Kollidam police registered a case against nine people — Raja, Rajendran, Ravikumar, Rajkumar, Sureshkumar, Pushpam, Rajeswari, Karthiga, and Angumani — under sections 296 (obscene acts), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351 (criminal intimidation), 79 (insult to the modesty of a woman), and 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant sections of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and the Representation of the People Act. Police arrested six of them. They were produced in court and remanded in judicial custody. The three others are absconding. SP Selvanagarathinam said other accused would be arrested soon. Meanwhile, TVK president and actor Vijay, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran, former president K Annamalai, AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss and AIADMK's IT wing condemned the incident on social media.