Puducherry sisters' suicide: CPI finds fault with police

The Communist Party of India faulted police for its 'failure' to save the two sisters and their mother who allegedly committed suicide after being evicted from the Aurobindo Ashram on Thursday, following a Supreme Court order.

Five sisters were evicted from the ashram on Wednesday. Two of them and their mother allegedly committed suicide by jumping into the sea on Thursday, while the other three and their father, who also jumped into the sea at Kalapet, were rescued by local fishermen and were hospitalised.

R Viswanathan, party's local unit Secretary, in a release here noted that when police took steps to evict them, the sisters had objected and sought permission to stay in their quarters. They had made it clear they would commit suicide if they were evicted, he said. They were brought to the police station but were not counselled or admitted to any Women's Home, particularly after they had made known their intention to commit suicide.

Failure of police to get them admitted to a women's home had led to the suicides, Viswanathan said. He took strong exception to some people attacking Ashram premises, saying it would only cause unnecessary rancour and worsen the situation among different sections of people.