Villupuram students' suicide: CM announces solatium, directs police to conduct indepth probe

Chennai

In a statement here, Ms Jayalalithaa expressed shock and grief on hearing that the bodies of three girls were fished out from an open farm well near the College on January 23.
 
Expressing her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members, she also announced a solatium of Rs 1 lakh each to their families from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund.

The Chief Minister said she has directed the police to conduct a thorough probe and take action against those responsible for the incident.

Meanwhile, Ms Vasuki Subramaniam, who has been absconding after the alleged suicide incident snowballed into a major issue, surrendered before a Magistrate Court at suburban Alandur.

While police termed it as suicide and said the post mortem report too confirms it, the family members of the girls suspected foul play.

They alleged that the girls were murdered for confronting the college management about financial exploitation and for questioning about lack of basic amenities.

They also alleged that despite several complaints, the district administration has not taken any action against the college management.

The post-mortem was conducted on the bodies of Saranya and Priyanka and handed over to their parents.

Contending that the autopsy on the body of his daughter was performed without his consent, Tamilarasan, father of Monisha, has moved the Madras High Court, seeking a second post-mortem at a Government Hospital in Chennai.

The court has sought a report from the State Government by tomorrow and directed the police to preserve Monisha's body, which was brought to the Government Royapettah Hospital here, till then.

Dr MGR Medical University, under which the college functioned, said it had already withdrawn the affiliation given to the college.

She was remanded in Judicial custody for three days, following which she was lodged in prison.

It may be recalled that the police yesterday arrested two persons, including the College Principal Kalanithi and Ms Vasuki's son Sudhakar Varma in connection with the death of the three students.

The duo, who were arrested in Kallakurichi, were produced before a local court and remanded in judicial custody.

The bodies of T Monisha (19) of Chennai, A Saranya (19) of Kancheepuram and V Priyanka (19) of Tiruvarur, who had allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a well, were fished out by the police and fire services personnel.

The incident fuelled a series of protests and demonstrations by political parties and student organisations, who demanded stern action against the college management.

As the protests mounted, the revenue authorities sealed and closed the college.

Leaders of various political parties expressed shock over the incident and wanted the State Government to order a judicial probe into the incident, as mystery shrouded the death of the girls, whose hands and legs were tied when their bodies were fished out from the well.

While police termed it as suicide and said the post mortem report too confirms it, the family members of the girls suspected foul play.

They alleged that the girls were murdered for confronting the college management about financial exploitation and for questioning about lack of basic amenities.

They also alleged that despite several complaints, the district administration has not taken any action against the college management.

The post-mortem was conducted on the bodies of Saranya and Priyanka and handed over to their parents.

Contending that the autopsy on the body of his daughter was performed without his consent, Tamilarasan, father of Monisha, has moved the Madras High Court, seeking a second post-mortem at a Government Hospital in Chennai.

The court has sought a report from the State Government by tomorrow and directed the police to preserve Monisha's body, which was brought to the Government Royapettah Hospital here, till then.

Dr MGR Medical University, under which the college functioned, said it had already withdrawn the affiliation given to the college.