Eviction drives woman to suicide

Chennai, Aug 28 (UNI) A woman allegedly committed suicide by setting herself ablaze to protest Chennai Corporation's move to evict families from a land they had been occupying for over 40 years, at Vysarpadi in North Chennai last night.

The victim's mother alleged her daughter took the extreme step after the Corporation authorities forcibly entered the hut and evicted them.

According to reports, Saraswathi (70), a resident of Paneerselvam Nagar, had been staying along with her daughter Prema (45) and five sons for the past 40 years.

The Corporation authorities had issued a notice to the occupants to vacate the land for setting up a park. Following this, the occupants filed a counter.

In the meantime, about 20 Corporation workers reached Vysarpadi claiming to have won the case and started removing the thatched houses.

When Prema demanded them to produce the Court order, they turned a deaf ear and pull downed the thatched roof. An enraged Prema doused herself with kerosene and set herself afire.

Even as the Corporation workers fled the scene, Prema was rushed to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital where she succumbed.

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