Manohar, who was an eyewitness to the murder of 20-year-old Sathya Priya at the St Thomas Mount Railway Station in Chennai on October 13, Thursday, said that the woman was sitting with three of her friends when the accused Sathish approached her. “[Sathish] called Sathya Priya while she was talking to her friends, and she went to speak to him. The train began to approach as they were speaking, and he just pushed her onto the tracks and fled before anyone could stop him. He seemed to know which angle to push her from,” Manohar told TNM. The eyewitness, who hails from Chrompet, said that the crime happened in broad daylight, somewhere between 11.30 am and 12 pm. He added that the police arrived a few hours later to retrieve Sathya’s body.
A day after the tragic death of Sathya, a second year student at a private college who was killed by her stalker D Sathish, her father Manikam died by suicide on Friday. Meanwhile, Sathish was arrested by the Chennai Police in the early hours of Friday. He was found in Thoraipakkam and has been taken to the Mambalam police station for further questioning.
It is learnt that Sathya was waiting for the train when Sathish approached her and engaged in a tussle. After an argument broke out, Sathish pushed her in front of the train. The Railway Police arrived at the spot and retrieved Sathya’s body from the tracks. As part of the investigation, four teams have been formed under the Railway Police, and three under the St Thomas Mount Commissioner of Law and Order.
Sathya’s mother is the head constable at the Adambakkam police station, and lives at the St Thomas Mount police quarters. According to the police, Sathish, who was known to Sathya, had been harassing her for over a year. 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.
With inputs from Akchayaa Rajkumar and Saradha U
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.