Victim’s siblings also good at studies

Anitha, lost her mother Anandam nearly 10 years ago, and her father Shanmugam married again. Her step mother Vasuki has a seven- year- old daughter.

Shanmugam is a daily wage earner in Gandhi Market, Tiruchy. Shanmugam and Anandam raised five children, including Anitha, who is the youngest in the family. All the children were good students.

Her eldest brother Manirathnam has completed his MBA, and is preparing for UPSC examination, while her second brother Sathish Kumar, a graduate, works as a collection agent in a private bank. Her third brother Pandian has been pursuing degree in Ariyalur and the last brother Arun Kumar is studying in a college in Tiruchy.

According to K Karunanidhi, the Inspector from Sendurai, “Anitha was found hanging, by one of her brothers in the inner hall in her house around 3.30 pm. She had done this act when she was alone at home. Her family members rushed to her house, and lowered her to ground before we could reach the spot. We suspect that she was under depression after the court verdicts came out.“

In an earlier interview to a TV channel, when she took the NEET issue to Supreme court, Anitha spoke about lack of opportunities for students from rural backgrounds. “In my village, no one has been successful at the NEET exam because people like us don’t have the means to attend coaching classes, we can only proper if we study with whatever we have,” she said.