State government, police draw flak as murdered college girl cremated

“After my husband’s death 16 years ago, my daughter and son meant the world to me. Since she was 5 years old, I brought her up all by myself,” cried Aswini’s mother Sankari, as she was consoled by relatives. 

Earlier, the family members refused to receive Aswini’s body seeking justice immediately, and demanding that Azhagesan, the accused, should be hanged. Following this, Kilpauk Deputy Commissioner S Rajendran held talks with Sankari and family after which they received the body and took it to their home in Maduravoyal.

Last month, Aswini had complained to the local police against Azhagesan following her. “His relatives and a few lawyers who assured to the police that he won’t trouble her any more should be summoned,” said her uncle Sampath. He used to pick her up after college every day, except Friday when he was late by a little while. 

Meanwhile, Azhagesan, who was undergoing treatment at KK Nagar government hospital for injuries, was produced before Saidapet magistrate. He was remanded to 15-day judicial custody and sent to Puzhal prison. He reportedly told the police that he had come to the college to kill himself in front of her but turned on her when she ignored him. 

Meanwhile, stating that the murder could have been averted had the city police acted promptly on Aswini’s complaint, opposition leader and DMK working president MK Stalin alleged that her murder was the “bloody evidence” to the fact that the police invested their time in protecting the chief minister and his government, and not about the safety of the people. 

BJP state president Tamilisai Soundarajan, too, came down heavily on the state government over the alleged lack of safety for women in Tamil Nadu, asking why there was no police protection for Aswini even after the complaint. Speaking to the media here, she pointed out that this was the second death of a woman after Usha, a pregnant woman in Tiruchy, and added that her party would hold protests demanding safety for women.