PUDUCHERRY: A high voltage suicide drama played out by Hemalata Prasad and four of her sisters ended when police evicted the five women from the premises of Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Kuruchikuppam as per Supreme Court order. The Apex Court had on December 9 directed the five sisters, Jayashreee, Arunashri, Rajyashree, Nivedita, and Hemalata, to vacate the premises within seven days of the order.
Tension prevailed in Ambabhikshu House at around 9 am when the youngest sister Hemalata threatened to commit suicide by jumping from the water tank on the terrace of the four storied-building, and her sisters tied ropes from ceiling fans in their room. Police arrived after an Ashram authority forwarded them the SMS sent by Hemalata threatening to end their lives within an hour. “I‘ve already sent my suicide letter to all officials concerned. I am now sitting on block B Ambabikshu house water tank. Please inform the trustees that they have an hour to sign the undertaking before I jump to death,” Hemalata stated in the SMS. The sisters sought the Ashram to pass a resolution in the Trust Board meet to stop execution of the SC order and give an undertaking to UT police to that effect. They also sought all facilities available to other members in the Ashram.
A police team led by N Ravikumar SP (North) and SI Sajeeth rushed to the spot and had heated arguments with the sisters. The officials informed them that they cannot ignore the direction of the SC to evict them if they failed to vacate the premises. The suicide drama lasted for an hour. Initially, the police was hesitant to go to the terrace, but they eventually brought Hemalata down with the help of a woman cop.
Claiming that justice still eluded them and in the light of inadequate security, the sisters issued fresh threats. “We would not budge from this stand and even if the police drives us to the streets, we would commit suicide in the Bay of Bengal. We have no other option as we do not have any other source of income,” Hemalata told news persons. The sisters were taken to the All women police station where a case of attempting suicide was booked against Hemalata. Finally, police convinced the sisters to vacate the premises and live in their paternal house in the town.