3 students end lives in Tamil Nadu, blame college in note
CHENNAI: Three female students from a private medical college in Villupuram drowned themselves in a well near their college as part of a suicide pact, police said on Sunday. A note recovered from the spot accused the management of the naturopathy and yoga college of pushing them into taking the extreme step.
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday sealed the private medical college – SVS Naturopathy and Yoga College – in Villupuram after protests by parents of three girl students who committed suicide, and other students on Sunday.
Three women students from the college drowned themselves in a well near their college as part of a suicide pact, police said. A note recovered from the spot accuses the management of the college of pushing them into taking the extreme step.
Police said the bodies of the deceased – identified as T Monisha, E Saranya and V Priyanka (all 19-year-olds) – were found floating in the well by local residents on Saturday. They had reportedly tied themselves together with a dupatta before jumping into the water.
The suicide note from the three women, who had just returned from the Pongal holidays, alleged that the college administration had been charging exorbitant fees from them. Officials of the institute were also accused of discriminating against some students because they had gained admission through merit, and were therefore exempt from paying substantial sums of money as fees.
The parents of the victims alleged on local television that the institute management was squarely responsible for the tragedy, and demanded that appropriate action be taken against them. They also planned to take out a protest along with college students on Sunday.
The suicide deaths are shroud- ed in mystery as parents allege it to be a case of murder, but the police have registered a case of suicide and are investigating.
District collector P Lakshmi issued orders to seal the college till further orders, amid allegations by students that the college was charging exorbitant fees and offered no facilities to the students.
Dean of the college, P Vasanthamani told HT that the institution would remain closed till further orders and investigations into the case were completed.
The collector and senior police officials held meetings with parents of the three girls –TM on is ha, AS ar anya and V Priyanka – and students of the college and assured them of strict action against those responsible for the death of the girls.
Meanwhile two persons, Subramanian an administrator (Correspondent) and Sudhakar, son of chairman of the college Vasuki Subramanian, were among the four persons being interrogated. After discussions with parents, they relented and allowed post mortem of the bodies be conducted. However, one parent continued to insist that it was a case of murder and that the post mortem be done outside Villupuram. He alleged that there were cuts and bruises on the bodies of the girls.
Tamil Nadu health minister C Vijayabhaskar assured reporters in Chennai that a thorough probe would be conducted into the incident.