Cops stop family suicide bid

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Timely intervention and the presence of mind of two police constables attached with the Podanur police station saved the lives of a 36-year-old woman and her three teenage children who were seconds away from immolating themselves.

The two constables, who were informed of the attempt by one of the teenagers over the police hotline ‘100’, broke open the front door of the house in Madurai Veeran Koil Street, Podanur and rescued all four who were drenched in kerosene, even as the husband of the woman and her in-laws watched the suicide bid from outside.

Santhya, 36, poured kerosene over herself and her three children Radha, 18, a second-year student at a government college here, Pramila, 13, a Class VIII student, and Raja, 15, a Class X student, (names changed) after she was accused of having an affair by her in-laws and husband.

“The woman who had been in a troubled relationship with her husband Saravanan, 42, an alcoholic, was dejected that she did not get any support from her family and decided to end her life as well as that of her children,” cops said.

However, the eldest daughter Radha, who was shocked at her mother’s decision to end their lives, had called up the police control room and informed them about the suicide bid.

Constables V. Murugan and S. Rajesh Kumar attached to the Podanur police station, who were passing on regular patrol along Vellalore Road around 10.45 pm, rushed to the spot and found that several people, including family members and neighbours, were watching from outside as the woman tried to set herself and her children on fire.

“We broke open the front door and found that the woman was ready to set herself and her children ablaze with a matchstick. We overpowered the woman and her children who were doused in kerosene,” Rajesh Kumar told D C.

Santhya and her children were later taken for counselling and then sent home. City police commissioner A. K. Viswanathan rewarded them Rs 1,000 each.