Suicides after politician’s death

Press, 26 December 1987, Page 6

Suicides after politician’s death

NZPA-Reuter Madras Five mourning men hanged themselves and three people tried to commit suicide by fire in Madras following the death on Thursday of the actor-politician M. G. Ramachandran, the Indian police said yesterday. Mr Ramachandran was 70.

Security forces went on maximum alert in preparation for Mr Ramachandran’s funeral, as mourners, most in white, thronged to hast-ily-constructed shrines to place flowers around portraits of their idol wearing his favourite sunglasses and fur cap. Police said the crowd would swell to about one million by the beginning of the funeral of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state, home for India’s 50 million Tamils. Paramilitary and police forces were rushed from neighbouring cities to prevent further outbreaks 'of violence after three people were killed when police fired on rampaging mobs.

The police said the attempted suicides included a girl who tried to set fire to herself.

“We had a tough time yesterday pushing away people who tried to throw themselves at the wheels of the vehicle which was carrying M.G.R.’s body,” said a senior Madras police officer. “Today it will be worse.”

He said more people could also try to commit suicide by hanging or by fire during the funeral procession and cremation ceremony. The crowds are expected to line the streets for the 13 km procession for Mr Ramachandran, popularly known as M.G.R., who ruled Tamil Nadu for nearly a decade.

Thousands of mourners camped overnight on pavements or on Marina Beach, where M.G.R. will be cremated.

V. R. Neduchezhiyan, who was sworn in as acting Chief Minister, appealed to Tamils to keep calm and not let their grief turn to violence.