COIMBATORE: A 97-year-old woman and her three daughters on Monday attempted to commit self-immolation on the district collectorate premises.
Murugammal Palanichamy, 97, of Kuppanur near Annur, came with her three daughters to the collectorate entrance and poured kerosene over them. Police rushed to the spot and stopped them.
Later, Murugammal told reporters that her son Rangaswamy took her property documents from her many years back to apply for an electricity connection, but stealthily changed it to his name. "My son died 10 months back and now his wife and children are not willing to give my daughters or me a share of the property or a place to stay," she said, adding that she has been forced to beg.
Murugammal on September 7 petitioned the collector for permission to end her own life as she was forced to beg after being cheated by her son. The Annur tahsildar collected all her documents and promised to look into the issue.
Meanwhile, Periyamman, 85, a widow from Vadavalli, petitioned the collector seeking to retrieve her 5-cent land from her grandson.
Periyamman, who lost her husband 45 years back, was accompanied by her neighbours. In her petition, Periyamman said her grandson, Gopalakrishnan, transferred her 5-cent plot to his name promising to take care of her. "However, he neither bought medicines nor groceries for food for me. My neighbours help me by giving me food, but I can’t buy medicines," she said. She either wanted the land back in her name or monthly monetary support from her grandson.
Another woman, Nagamani, 67, also a widow, living on Thayir Itteri Road at Rathinapuri said her four daughters were forcing her to transfer 4.75 cent plot and house to their name. She accused her daughters, their husbands and brother-in-laws of physically abusing her often. "They don’t even let me collect my rent from the tenant and grab that money from me every month. Police refuse to register a case," she said.
Under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007, north taluk office has settled seven cases so far, cancelling property registrations worth Rs 2.7 crore and ordering monthly support in two cases.