Major political parties and a ruling party MLA staged protests here on Thursday demanding strong action against the management of Sri Aurobindo Ashram for the death of three persons who were evicted from the Ashram.

Ruling party MLA and Government Whip G.Nehru visited the family members who were under treatment in Government General Hospital. Later he and his supporters staged a protest near the Head-Post Office condemning the management of the Ashram.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Nehru said, Several irregularities have been continuously occurring in the Ashram. The trustees should be removed and an IAS officer appointed to administer the Ashram. The Central Government also should step in and order appropriate enquiry into alleged irregularities.

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam unit secretary P.Purushothaman condemned the police for the death of three persons. In a statement, he said when the sisters stated that they would commit suicide, the police should have taken it seriously. After arresting them on Wednesday, the police could have kept the sisters in special home meant for women and should have counselled.

Only because of the police do not take similar incidents seriously, such unfortunate incidents have been continuously recurring. In Tamil Nadu, All Women Police Stations are functioning whereas Puducherry police is not showing any attention on women police. It is highly condemnable that government failed to protect the women, said Mr. Purushothaman.

Cadres of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam under former MLA R. Siva picketed before the Head Post demanding the Ashram to be brought under government control.

Mr.Siva said even after receipt of several complaints against the Ashram, the governments have not taken action. The Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) should conduct a thorough probe into all complaints. The Union Territory Government should bring the Ashram under its control.

CPM unit secretary Rajangam and his party cadre conducted demonstration in front of Government General Hospital demanding CBI enquiry into the death of three persons.

CPI faulted police for its failure to save the two sisters and their mother who committed suicide after being evicted from the Aurobindo Ashram.

R.Viswanathan, partys local unit Secretary, in a press release said that when police took steps to evict them, the sisters had objected and sought permission to stay in their quarters. They had made it clear they would commit suicide if they were evicted, he said.

Go here to see the original:
Puducherry sisters death: political parties demand action

The incidents spread panic among Sri Aurobindo Ashram devotees tourists and residents alike

A day after five sisters were evicted from the Sri Aurobindo Ashram-run Ambabhikshu apartments, on a Supreme Court directive, two of the sisters and their mother ended their lives on Wednesday in an alleged family suicide bid by drowning themselves in the sea near here.

They were identified as the siblings Arunashree, 50, and Rajashree, 45, and their mother Shanthi Devi, 65.

Shanthi Devis husband Gadhadhar Prasad, 70, and the other sisters Jayashree Prasad, 54, Nivedita Prasad, 42, and Hemalata Prasad, 40, were saved by fishermen who were returning to the shore. They were rushed to the Puducherry Government General Hospital.

The incident sparked protests, and the Ashram came under attack by miscreants. A few outfits have called a bandh for Saturday and demanded that the government take over the Ashram.

Police sources said the sisters, along with their parents who were staying in Captain Marius Xavier Street, boarded a bus to Kalapet in the early hours of Thursday. Eyewitnesses said the seven-member family was seen walking towards the beach. Shortly thereafter, a group of fishermen returning to the shore sighted them struggling in the waters and rescued four. The bodies washed ashore at Chinna Mudaliyar Chavady and Thantharayankuppam.

The incident brought to a tragic end the Ashrams legal battle, dating back to 2002, to evict the sisters for misconduct. The Madras High Court had upheld the Ashrams right to initiate disciplinary action, which the sisters challenged in the Supreme Court. On December 9, the Supreme Court directed the sisters to vacate the premises within seven days. It asked the jurisdictional police station (All Mahila police station, Puducherry) to evict them from the Ambabhikshu House if they failed to comply with the order.

TIMELINE OF A TRAGEDY

At 12.30 pm, a group of persons sporting black shirts pelted stones at glass panels of petrol bunk owned by Sri Aurobindo Ashram at Ambour Road. They even attacked some of machines and glass panels of office.

A host of outfits and civil society organisations have called for a dawn-to-dusk bandh on December 20 demanding that the Union and Puducherry governments should intervene and take over Sri Aurobindo Ashram.

Read the original post:
Death of Puducherry sisters sparks violence

New Zealand citizen Philip Blackwood, left, is escorted by a police officer following a court appearance in Yangon Thursday. Pic: AP.

YANGON, Burma (AP) A New Zealand bar manager and two Burma men have pleaded innocent to charges they insulted religion by posting an advertisement with an image of a pink Buddha wearing headphones.

Philip Blackwood, general manager of the V Gastro Bar, was arrested last week after posting the online advertisement for the bar in Burmas biggest city, Yangon. The charges carry a penalty of up to two years in prison.

The advertisement was removed and an apology was posted, but Blackwood and the two men were arrested. Four prosecution witnesses testified at their first trial session Thursday, and defense witnesses are to take the stand on Dec. 26.

About 90 percent of Burmas people are Buddhist. Perceived insults to Buddhism are taken seriously.

Read the rest here:
NZ man accused of insulting Buddhism goes on trial in Burma

New Zealand citizen Philip Blackwood, left, is escorted by a police officer following a court appearance in Yangon Thursday. Pic: AP.

YANGON, Burma (AP) A New Zealand bar manager and two Burma men have pleaded innocent to charges they insulted religion by posting an advertisement with an image of a pink Buddha wearing headphones.

Philip Blackwood, general manager of the V Gastro Bar, was arrested last week after posting the online advertisement for the bar in Burmas biggest city, Yangon. The charges carry a penalty of up to two years in prison.

The advertisement was removed and an apology was posted, but Blackwood and the two men were arrested. Four prosecution witnesses testified at their first trial session Thursday, and defense witnesses are to take the stand on Dec. 26.

About 90 percent of Burmas people are Buddhist. Perceived insults to Buddhism are taken seriously.

More here:
NZ man charged with insulting Buddhism in Burma