R. Seetha

KLANG (Nov 18, 2009) : The woman who fed paraquat to her four children and herself apparently out of grief over her brother's death died at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah hospital (TARH) today.

R. Seetha, 31, who was admitted to the hospital a week ago with her three daughters and son, died at about 3pm of multiple organ failure as a result of paraquat poisoning.

Human Rights Party (HRP) information chief S. Jayathas said Seetha's husband Manimaran and HRP leader P. Uthayakumar were by her side when she died.

The woman was said to be distraught after losing her younger brother Surenthiran, 24 who was among five suspected robbers killed in a shootout with police at Taman Klang Utama on Nov 9.

Three days later, she sugared the liquid weedkiller and fed it to her four children, Darshini, eight, Usharani, seven, Navina, three and son, Kugan before consuming it herself,

Usharani and Navina suffered the least of the deadly drink and were treated in a regular ward while Seetha, Darshini and Kugan were admitted to the intensive care unit in critical condition.

Jayathas said all four children are out of danger and are recovering at the TARH.

The gunning down of the suspects also drew criticism from the HRP which accused the police of being high-handed. Uthayakumar had also said last week that if Seetha died, her body would be carried to Parliament as a mark of protest.

Tan Sri Musa Hassan

However, Selangor police, who began investigating the suicide case soon after, said they discovered Seetha had obtained the paraquat weeks before her brother's death.

They also learnt that her drastic attempt to take her won life and that of her children was due to other reasons and not due to her brother's death.

Meanwhile, at a Deepavali function held by police at the Police Training Centre on Jalan Semarak today, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan defended the actions of his men in the shootout.

He said his men had given ample warning to the suspects to give themselves up but they opened fire at police.

"If they had surrendered without opening fire and trying to escape, this would not have happened. My men have the right to defend themselves in such situations where gunshots are fired at them." he added.