A college girl in the district has allegedly died by suicide following her family’s opposition to her proposed marriage with a Scheduled Caste youth. The youth, however, has alleged that she was killed by her family members, who were Caste Hindus.
Police said P. Sivamathi, 18, a second-year undergraduate student hailing from Pettai, was in love with M. Ananthakrishnan, 23, of the same locality. Her family was opposed to their affair. However, they later agreed to give her in marriage to Mr. Ananthakrishnan and the wedding was scheduled to be held in a temple at Puliyarai on February 6.
Against this backdrop, Sivamathi was brought to the government hospital at Kandigaiperi near Pettai around 6 p.m. on Sunday with injury around her neck. The doctors in the hospital declared her ‘brought dead’ and sent the body to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.
The Pettai police registered a case of ‘suspicious death’ based on a complaint from Sivamathi’s mother Revathi. However, Mr. Ananthakrishnan submitted a complaint with the police on Monday, accusing Ms. Revathi and Sivamathi’s maternal uncle of murder due to caste pride.
“When Sivamathi called me over the phone on Sunday, she said her mother and maternal uncle were threatening her against marrying me. Since Sivamathi died under mysterious circumstances, I suspect her mother and maternal uncle had murdered her as she had decided to marry me,” he alleged.
During inquiry, Ms. Revathi told the police that her daughter ended her life following an altercation between them.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli City, N. Manivannan designated Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli West, Madhan, to probe the case.
(Those in distress or having suicidal tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling State’s health helpline 104 or Chennai-based Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.)
Published – February 02, 2026 08:32 pm IST
