Families of three girl students who committed suicide seek action

Chennai: Two days after three students in Villupuram committed suicide blaming the college management for charging exorbitant fees but lacking infrastructure, the chairman of SVS College surrendered before a court in Chennai on Monday.

The suicide note left behind by students Priyanka, Saranya and Monisha accuses the SVS college management of charging excess fees and torture. In the two page suicide note, the naturopathy students said "Despite several complaints…no action has been taken. We have worked more doing menial jobs here than studies….We are committing suicide so that action can be taken against this college. Despite several complaints no action has been taken. We have worked more doing menial jobs here than studies….We are committing suicide so that action can be taken against this college"

The family, however, calls it murder, suspecting foul play on the part of the college. The post-mortem carried out at Villupuram on the three bodies suggests that the three students died due to drowning and that there were no visible external injuries on their bodies. While the families of Saranya and Priyanka collected their bodies, the family of Monisha approached the Madras High Court demanding that a fresh autopsy be carried out in Chennai. The High Court has directed the state government to preserve the body until Wednesday, the next date of hearing.

Tamilarasan, father of Monisha, said, "I still wait for justice and hope. I request all political parties and students to lend support to us so we may get justice."

Vasuki Subramanian, the chairman of the institute, meanwhile, surrendered before a court in Chennai. The police have registered a case of abetment of suicide, extortion and cheating.

This came even as the MGR Medical University claimed that the college at Villupuram did not have affiliation for the year 2015-2016, and a decision on transferring the remaining students was under process.

MGR Medical University vice chancellor Geethalakshmi said, "SVS College did not have affiliation for 2015-2016. The website clearly mentions this."

Deeply distressed over the loss of their 19-year-old daughter, Monisha's family also demand that the case be transferred to the state's CB-CID and that compensation of Rs 25 lakh each be given to the families of the victims.