Date:20/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/20/stories/2004072005540400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

An unfulfilled last wish

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM, JULY 19. Even after death, her last wish remained unfulfilled.

Due to financial problems, U. Umadevi (24), employed on contract as the panchayat secretary of Kandipudi in Payakaraopeta mandal, allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself to the ceiling at her rented house in the nearby village, Srirampuram, about 80 km from here, on Sunday.

In her suicide note, she had requested the police not to perform post-mortem on her. "We would like to fulfil her last wish but we are helpless. It being an unnatural death, we are bound to conduct post-mortem as per law," the Payakaraopeta Circle Inspector, M.V. Ramana Rao, told The Hindu on Monday.

The body was handed over to her relatives after post-mortem at the Yelamanchili sub-divisional hospital.

Umadevi, who joined on contract on September 1, 2003, on a consolidated pay of Rs. 2,000 a month, also wrote a letter to the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, pointing out that she had a tough time taking care of her family due to non-payment of salary for the last four months.

Umadevi, a native of Madhavadhara of Visakhapatnam, stated that since only meagre funds were provided, she had to buy stationery from her salary. She stated that several panchayat secretaries were dejected over the regime's failure to redress their grievances.