Tragedy struck a family in Chennai twice, within hours. Soon after learning of the death of his daughter Sathya Priya, who was killed after being pushed in front of a moving train, Manickam, died by suicide on Friday, October 14. Manickam was rushed to a hospital but died early on Friday morning.
Sathya Priya, a BSc student at a private college, was killed by her stalker, Sathish, who pushed her in front of a moving train at St Thomas Mount station in Chennai on Thursday, October 13. According to police sources, the murderer, 23-year-old Satish, was known to her and had been stalking Sathya for a whole year. Sathish is the son of a retired Special Sub Inspector (SSI), who worked at the Adambakkam police station. Sathya’s mother was a head-constable at the same police station. Both Sathya and Satish lived in the same area in Guindy.
On May 20, 2022, Sathya’s mother Ramalakshmi filed a complaint at the Mambalam police station, alleging that Sathish had an argument with her daughter outside her college. The police registered an FIR and booked Sathish under section 75 of Tamil Nadu City Police Act,1888 – penalty for drunkenness or riotous or indecent behaviour in public place. Sathish was arrested but granted bail by the police the same day. Sathish was not booked for stalking or harassment.
Two days later, Ramalakshmi filed another complaint at the St Thomas Mount railway station against Sathish. Sources told TNM that the police asked both families to appear for an inquiry. However, a ‘compromise’ was struck and no FIR was registered. Ramalakshmi was made to give in writing that she didn’t want to proceed further with the complaint.
Despite the complaints against him and the police’s ‘compromise’, Sathish did not stop harassing Sathya. Sources tell TNM that Sathish had instead taken to stalking Sathya wherever she went. Questions are now being raised as to why no case of stalking or harassment was filed against Sathish, an offence that would have attracted more stringent punishment.
On October 13, Satish tracked her down to the St Thomas Mount station and got into an argument with her, before fatally pushing her onto the tracks as the train approached. Sathya’s body came under the wheels and she died on the spot, following which Sathish ran away from the station. The Railway Police arrived on the scene of the murder and retrieved Sathya’s body from the tracks and sent the body for postmortem. Four teams under the Railway Police and three teams led by St Thomas Mount Assistant Commissioner of Law and Order were on the lookout for Sathish. The police also retrieved CCTV footage from nearby areas to ascertain the identity of the accused. Sathish was arrested in the early hours of Friday.
The murder raises the concern that such a tragedy could have been averted if only Sathya’s complaints had not been disregarded.
If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers of suicide-prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.
Tamil Nadu
State health department's suicide helpline: 104
Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in Tamil Nadu)
Andhra Pradesh
Life Suicide Prevention: 78930 78930
Roshni: 9166202000, 9127848584
Karnataka
Sahai (24-hour): 080 65000111, 080 65000222
Kerala
Maithri: 0484 2540530
Chaithram: 0484 2361161
Both are 24-hour helpline numbers.
Telangana
State government's suicide prevention (tollfree): 104
Roshni: 040 66202000, 6620200
SEVA: 09441778290, 040 27504682 (between 9 am and 7 pm
Aasara offers support to individuals and families during an emotional crisis, for those dealing with mental health issues and suicidal ideation, and to those undergoing trauma after the suicide of a loved one.
24x7 Helpline: 9820466726
Click here for working helplines across India.