TN girl immolates self to protest death penalty

CHENNAI/VELLORE: A 21-year-old girl set herself ablaze in front of the Tahsil office at Kanchee­puram on Sunday demanding that the death penalty of the three convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case be commuted. She died on the way to the hospital.Senkodi, an active volunteer of Makkal Mandram, an organisation that fights for people’s rights, reportedly left a suicide note stating, “I am ending my life in a belief that my death would save the lives of Perarivalan, Murugan and Santhan.” Jessy, an office bearer of Makkal Mandram, who said she read Senkodi’s letter, told Express that she had also mentioned in it the mass uprising that Tamil Nadu witnessed, following the self immolation of Muthukumar in 2009 at Shastri Bhavan in Chennai, when the Eelam war was at its peak.Senkodi, who was alone at the office of Makkal Mandram since morning, reportedly left the place around 4.30 pm on a two-wheeler. “She parked the bike at a tea shop opposite the Tahsil office, told the shop owner that she would pick up the vehicle later and gave the key to him,” said Jessy.Within the next few minutes, Senkodi walked towards the gate of the Tahsil office and poured petrol over her body and set herself ablaze. She had carried the petrol in a PET bottle, said volunteers of Makkal Mandram.Police claimed Senkodi’s suicide was not related to the plight of the Rajiv case convicts and that she did not leave behind any letter. Makkal Mandram activists, have, however, uploaded the letter online, making it public.Senkodi had reportedly been considering giving up her life for the cause, from some time ago. “Last night, she mentioned to me about ending her life in order to save the three convicts but we advised her that ending one’s life is not a solution to the problem,” Jessy revealed.“The last words she spoke was also about the three convicts, to a tailor in the locality,” said Jessy.Two days ago, Senkodi had participated in the agitation held in front of Vellore jail and also taken part in a bike rally along with members of the May 17 Movement for the same cause.