Emotions run high in Tamil Nadu

An upsurge of emotion was witnessed across Tamil Nadu when several supporters of AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha tried to commit suicide after she was convicted by a special CBI court in the disproportionate assets case.

Soon after the news about Jayalalitha’s arrest spread across the state, a 42-year-old man identified as K Babu committed suicide by hanging himself on Sunday morning in Kancheepuram district with the AIADMK flag in his hand.

The police sources said though they prevented him from setting himself ablaze near the collectorate , he took the extreme step at his residence when his family was away.

Another supporter, 64-year-old V Srinivasan, set himself ablaze in Chennai on Saturday and later succumbed to burns in the early hours of Sunday.

A 16-year-old girl, M Nagalakshmi, from Madurai district tried to set herself ablaze on Sunday afternoon. She was upset over her “favourite leader” being convicted in the disproportionate assets case.

Police said Nagalakshmi was admitted to Government Hospital in Madurai with 80 per cent burns and is said to be in a critical condition.

A 35-year-old fishermen in Pudukottai district was saved by the police after he consumed pesticide soon after hearing the special court verdict. At Perambalur district, AIADMK leader Paramasivam tried to commit suicide by consuming poison on Saturday evening.

However, he was immediately admitted to hospital where his condition is said to be serious. Likewise, several AIADMK cadres, including one Solairaj from Dindugal district, who tried to kill himself by climbing a mobile phone tower, was also saved by the fire and rescue service personnel.

A woman had tried to commit suicide in August in Salem district after hearing the news that a Sri Lankan government website had contents which targeted Jayalalitha.

After hearing about the incident, Jayalalitha had said that “suicide is an act of cowardice” and urged people to change their mindset and face life with confidence to achieve and to support achievers.