Blaming police for excess, woman kills self

Padmavathi took the extreme step to protest against the constant harassment meted out to her by the Chintadripet police, who she alleged has been targeting her husband Mohan unnecessarily. The woman set herself on fire in front of Chindadiripet sub-inspector Kumar and was rushed to the Kilpauk Medical College where she died on Monday morning. 

Official police sources, however, had denied the charges and said that they had visited the house of Mohan (50), at Navalur Nedunchezhian Colony, Chindadiripet to question him regarding a case. Sources said the police had been visiting his house for the last two days and Mohan remained elusive. On Sunday, Chintadripet sub-inspector Kumar again visited the house and questioned the family about Mohan’s whereabouts. Padmavathi’s relatives alleged that the sub-inspector threatened family members and asked them to vacate and leave his station limits. Padmavathi protested against the behaviour of the sub-inspector, poured kerosene and torched herself. 

Police rushed her to Kilpauk Medical College. Meanwhile, locals protested against the police and gathered in large numbers at the hospital. A tense situation prevailed in Chintadripet as the locals demanded action against the police official who reportedly harassed the family. The agitated crowd were pacified by senior police officials who ensured an investigation in the incident. 

In another case, a youth from Kannagi Nagar, who fell from the fourth floor of a building, while trying to escape from the police a couple of days ago, died at the hospital on Monday. The Kannagi Nagar police had visited the house of Movin (35), a resident of slum clearance board quarters at Kannagi Nagar, after his paramour’s mother-in-law lodged a complaint against him for assaulting her. When Movin saw the police coming, he tried to escape and fell from the fourth floor of the building. A seriously injured Movin was admitted in the hospital but died on Monday.