Thanjavur Student Suicide Case: Police Denies Claims Of Conversion

On January 19, a 17-year-old girl from Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu died by suicide after consuming poison. She had alleged that she was made to clean the hostel rooms by the warden. Reportedly, she was also being forced to convert to Christianity, a claim that was backed by local Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.

However, the Superintendent of Police Ravali Priya Gandhapuneni denied the conversion claim by BJP on January 20. SP Gandhapuneni told ANI that there was no issue of conversion involved as alleged by BJP leaders. The class 12 student died after ten days of consuming pesticide. She was staying at St Michael's Girl Home in the city. The warden has been arrested by the police.

Reportedly, a video of the student was found by the police, where Lavanya is seen saying that she was scolded and made to clean all the rooms in the hostel by the warden. She also alleged that she was constantly being forced to convert to Christianity.

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Thanjavur student suicide case

The student was found in a distressed state and was taken to the  Thanjavur Medical College Hospital. There she did not respond to the treatment and passed away. On January 10, Lavanya's father, Muruganadam alleged that his daughter drank pesticides to end her life due to coercion.

Her death has now been given a political tone by the state unit of BJP, who are demanding action against "forced conversion." The state BJP chief, K Annamalai, in a statement, talked about the incident and alleged that the FIR does not mention the attempts of forced conversion.

"The video statement of the girl before her death shows that the student was forced by the warden to convert. The government should order an unbiased probe into the incident and bring the accused before the law. The government should implement anti-conversion law," said the chief.

However, SP Gandhapuneni said, "We are investigating as to when and how the video was shot. In the first round of investigation, we have not received any complaint of forceful conversion. We have already filed a case and are looking into the complaint filed by her parents."

Before she was found in the distressed state, on January 9 she was treated at a nearby clinic but continued to vomit and the stomach ache persisted. After that, she was admitted to the hospital. Thereafter, it was her father who allegedly shifted her to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital. There she allegedly regained consciousness for a while, during that period she told the doctors of her attempt.

The Thirukattupalli police were informed by the doctors and they came to the hospital to question Lavanya. The police found out about the harassment and based on the deceased girl's and her father's statements arrested the warden Sakayamari, who is 62-years-old.

Image Credit: NDTV