Jaya conviction suicides continue; toll 250

Despite All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief Jayalalitha’s appeal to party cadres not to take their lives, the death toll as a result of her conviction in disproportionate assets case reached 250 on Wednesday. 

 Even as ‘Amma’ prepares to take office after her acquittal, seven persons have committed suicide by hanging or by setting themselves ablaze in the last two days.  Not paying heed to Jayalalitha’s appeals that people should not do the “cowardly” act of suicide due to hurdles in the disproportionate assets case, a man in Chennai district ended his life on Wednesda by jumping before the running train. 

People consumed poison, burnt or hung themselves to end their lives, overcome by the grief of Amma’s conviction in September, the police said. 

“A total of 250 persons including students have committed suicide since September 27,” Jayalalitha said in a statement. 

She also said families of 251 persons received compensation from the party to the tune of Rs 7.53 crore. 

AIADMK announced Rs 3 lakh as compensation for the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those admitted to hospitals after attempting suicide. 

The party high command instructed MLAs to hand over the money to the families of those committed suicide in their constituencies. 

Following the dictate, ministers and MLAs on Wednesday handed cheques to the families of the seven who recently took their lives. Police said more than 50 persons had a lucky escape after trying to end their lives by imbibing poison or setting themselves on fire.