Woman assaulted by DMK workers over gifts, dies by suicide in Tamil Nadu

TRICHY: A 25-year-old woman from Manachanallur in Trichy district died by suicide on Tuesday, after she was allegedly abused and assaulted by local DMK cadre on Monday night.The deceased was identified as Sindhuja from Vaazhaikattai village. She was married to Prasanth, a driver, and the couple have a daughter.According to district superintendent of police S Selvanagarathinam, on Monday night, DMK workers were distributing gift items to the villagers. When Sindhuja sought the gifts, the group told her that they were meant only for party members and their relatives. Sindhuja replied that she would question the DMK candidate during canvassing. Angered by this, the group caught her by hair and dress, and beat her with a broomstick. The next day, a distressed Sindhuja confronted her husband upon his return from work, accusing him of inaction. When Prasanth asked her to go to sleep and said they would handle it in the morning, she pushed him out, locked the door, and hanged herself, the SP said. Neighbours broke open the door and rushed her to a hospital, where she was declared brought dead.On Wednesday, her family and relatives blocked Trichy-Lalgudi Road, demanding action against the perpetrators. Subsequently, the Kollidam police registered a case against nine people — Raja, Rajendran, Ravikumar, Rajkumar, Sureshkumar, Pushpam, Rajeswari, Karthiga, and Angumani — under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant sections of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and the Representation of the People Act. Police arrested six of them. They were produced in court and remanded in judicial custody. Three others are absconding. Meanwhile, TVK president Vijay, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran, former BJP president K Annamalai, AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss and AIADMK's IT wing condemned the incident on social media.(Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on TN's health helpline 104 and Sneha's suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)