On 22nd of January, the Madras High Court lashed out at the police for taking the investigation in M Lavanya’s suicide case in a different direction.

The High Court asked the police to investigate the circumstances that made the 17 year old girl M Lavanya do suicide in Thanjavur and also asked to stop harassing the man who had recorded the victim’s dying declaration.

The Bench consisted of Justice GR Swaminathan who heard the case. The father of M Lavanya, S Muruganantham told the court that the police were trying to harass the man who had recorded the dying declaration of Lavanya. He also demanded a CB-CID investigation into the death of his daughter. S Muruganantham also informed and pointed fingers at the police by saying Thanjavur police was trying to protect the culprits who forced her daughter to convert to Christinity and made her do suicide. The Madras High Court passed an interim order restraining the police from harassing the man. The court directed the cops to ‘conduct themselves appropriately’.

An unfortunate incident took place which clearly describes what Predatory Proselytization by missionaries look like. The very concept of Abrahamic religions like Islam and Christianity is itself hazardous for the peace loving society.

M Lavanya, who was a student of Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Thirukattupali in Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, commited suicide after she was forced and tortured by school authorities in order to convert her to Christinity. Lavanya was a Hindu daughter of a poor farmer. She used to study in 12th standard. She committed suicide by drinking poison when was forced to convert to Christianity at school. She was also told by the school authorities that she will not be allowed to continue her studies if she will not not convert. School authorities even cancelled her leave for Pongal festival and forced her to do chores like cleaning toilets and washing dishes. Lavanya courageously showed her resistance and always refused to convert. She consumed the pesticides which was used in garden in order to end her life. It must be noted that the Christian missionary school was government aided.

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