Home » Tamil Nadu » Tamil Nadu Cm Mk Stalin Expresses Anguish Over Sathya Murder Says Such Incidents Must Not Be Repeated

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin expresses anguish over Sathya murder, says such incidents must not be repeated

Meanwhile, the police faced backlash for suggesting that victims register complaints against stalkers, as Sathya's mother had done just that!

ByShilpa Nair

Published Oct 16, 2022 | 1:55 PM ⚊UpdatedOct 16, 2022 | 1:58 PM

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin at a job fair on Saturday, 15 October, 2022. (Supplied)

Reacting to the shocking stalking-cum-murder case of a 20-year-old college student named Sathya, Tamil Nadu Chief MK Stalin on Saturday, 15 October, expressed deep anguish over the incident and said that such incidents must not happen in the future.

While participating in a job-fair event conducted at New College in Chennai, the chief minister said: “This is not the kind of society we want to see. As a society, we have the responsibility to ensure that no other girl meets such an end. Irrespective of whether it’s a boy or a girl, parents must inculcate societal concern in their children.”

He added: “Not just textbook education, but education about society is also needed. It is the responsibility of the parents to make sure that their children are not distracted and do not go in the wrong path.”

He further stated that a man may be naturally strong, but that strength must be used to protect women, and not control them.

Pointing out that the murder of Sathya was a reflection of the way some youths were being raised today, Stalin reiterated that schools, colleges, and parents should work together to protect them.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the murder case of Sathya was transferred from the Railway police to the Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department (CB-CID) by Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) C Sylendra Babu on Friday evening.

Background

20-year-old Sathya who died after she was pushed in front of a moving train by her stalker. (Supplied)

Sathya was pushed in front of a moving train by her stalker named Satish — who had been troubling her over for several months over a one-sided relationship — at the St Thomas Mount railway station in Chennai.

Unfortunately, hours after her murder, her father allegedly died by suicide.

While some other reports suggested that he died of a cardiac arrest, police officials said that the cause of death would become clear only after the post-mortem report became available.

For the people of Tamil Nadu, especially for residents of Chennai, the murder of Sathya was a chilling reminder of similar cases reported in the last few years.

For instance, in September 2021, a 20-year-old college student named Shwetha was stabbed at the Tambaram railway station by a man named Ramachandran. They had known each other for a few years.

Even though he tried to slit his own throat after killing Shwetha, the locals got a hold of him and handed him over to the police.

Similarly, in June 2016, 24-year-old S Swathi was hacked to death by her stalker P Ramkumar at the Nungambakkam railway station.

These cases triggered a massive debate about the safety of women in Tamil Nadu, and also highlighted the dangers of stalking as a crime.

Chennai police face backlash

A tweet from the official account of the Greater Chennai Police about how to deal with stalking came under criticism by netizens as cops were blamed for not taking proactive measures to protect Sathya despite the fact that two complaints were filed against Satish by her parents earlier this year.

To a tweet by the Indu Makkal Katchi asking about how a girl should deal with instances of stalking, the Chennai police replied: “If you feel someone is stalking, Be Brave! 1. Inform Police . a. Call 100 on emergency. b. Use “Kaaval Uthavi” app to inform Police on emergency. c. Helpline Numbers: 181, 1091 d. Inform Patrol vehicle nearby.”

If you feel someone is stalking,

Be Brave!

1. Inform Police .
a. Call 100 on emergency.
b. Use “Kaaval Uthavi” app to inform Police on emergency.
c. Helpline Numbers: 181, 1091
d. Inform Patrol vehicle nearby

— GREATER CHENNAI POLICE -GCP (@chennaipolice_) October 14, 2022

This tweet did not go down well with many because Sathywa’s mother — who also happens to be a police head constable — filed a complaint against Satish in May after he engaged in a heated argument with the college student and pulled her hair right outside the private college in Chennai where she was studying.

Based on this complaint, though, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against Satish. However, he was booked only under Section 75 of the Madras Police City Act. No other section was invoked.

A few days after the incident, Sathya’s family filed another complaint over the same incident at the St Thomas Mount Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the area where both Sathya and Satish lived. In this case, the two families were called in by the cops, and Satish was let off with a stern warning.

The parents of the girl allegedly later gave a letter to the police that they did not want to pursue further action in the case, and were satisfied with the warning that was given to Satish.

This, according to sources, was a compromise that was facilitated by the police between the two families as both Sathya’s mother and Satish’s father belonged to the police department. Satish’s father retired as a special sub-inspector.

Also read: Are you being stalked? Warning signs to look out for, and what to do

Many activists and others pointed out that had the police taken stern action against Satish in these two instances, the tragedy that hit Sathya’s family could have been possibly averted.