NCPCR Seeks Report From Tamil Nadu Police On Suicide Of Minor Girl Alleging Torture For Refusing To Change Religion
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has demanded an action taken report from the Tamil Nadu Police on a complaint regarding the suicide of a 17-year-old girl at the hostel of Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School at Michaelpatti in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu.
The girls died in hospital after consuming poison on January 9. A video of the statement given by the girl while in the hospital had come out on social media.
As per Legal Rights Protection Forum, a legal advocacy group on whose complaint the NCPCR has initiated action, the girl alleges in the video that the School authorities told her and her parents that if she converted to Christianity, they would help her with her further studies. The girl said that she was tortured after she refused to oblige. It is alleged that the girl was compelled to clean toilets in all rooms in the hostel.
As per news reports, the Police has registered a case against the warden of the hostel, Sahayamary, who was arrested but admitted to hospital after she complained about ill-health.
The Tamil Nadu Police has refused to accept the videographed statement of the deceased girl.
It is reported that even the parents of the child had also complained to the Police about the pressure from School authorities for religious conversion. It is also reported that the nun who was named by the deceased girl is not the person against whom the police have registered the case.
The NCPCR, in its notice of January 20 addressed to the Director General of Police of Tamil Nadu has stated that "there is prima facie contravention of Article 25 and Article 28(3) of the Indian Constitution, provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and various provisions under Indian Penal Code, 1860. Therefore, the Commission deems it appropriate to take cognizance under Section 13(1)(j) of CPCR Act, 2005".
As per the latest reports, the Police have arrested the parents of the deceased girl.