Jayalalithaa's conviction: 16 AIADMK supporters die in Tamil Nadu

, Sept 29: The conviction of AIADMK chief J

by a special court in Bangalore in relation to a 18-year-old disproportionate assets case on Saturday has seen at least 16 people committing suicide or dying of cardiac arrest across

, a

said.

Jayalalithaa, who stepped down from the post of the chief minister following her conviction, was disqualified from participating in electoral politics for six years and awarded a jail sentence of four years and slapped a fine of Rs 100 crore.

People killed themselves by trying all means. State police sources said three persons hanged themselves, one supporter committed suicide by self-immolation while another jumped in front of a bus while the sixth consumed poison. Ten others died of cardiac arrest after Jayalalithaa was convicted.

Two other persons, including a Class 12 student, attempted self-immolation and were hospitalised in a critical condition. Another AIADMK supporter cut off his finger.

Sources in the AIADMK said its leaders urged the supporters not to take such extreme steps. They also said the reaction shows the popularity of Jayalalithaa in the state politics. Jayalalithaa was replaced by state finance minister O Panneerselvam as the chief minister.

Tamil Nadu, with over 16,500 suicides last year, had the most number of suicides among all states except Maharashtra.

Oneindia News