View source for Thanjavur student suicide case

{{Short description|2022 suicide}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Lavanya Muruganantham
| image              =
| caption            =
| birth_date         =
| birth_place        =
| death_date         = {{death date and given age|2022|1|19|17|df=yes}}
| death_place        = [[Thanjavur]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| death_cause        = [[Suicide by poisoning]]
| resting_place      =
| occupation         = [[Student]]
| nationality        = Indian
}}
In the '''Thanjavur student suicide case''', also known as the '''Lavanya suicide case''', a 17-year-old student in [[Thanjavur]] district of [[Tamil Nadu]], India committed suicide. Her parents alleged that the student was forced to do work by the warden, after she allegedly refused to convert to Christianity. The investigation was transferred by the Madras High court to the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]], due to lapses on the part of the state police in conducting the investigation.<ref name="SCMP" /><ref name="Newslaundry 5 February 2022">{{cite news |last1=Shekhar |first1=Laasya |date=5 February 2022 |title=Lavanya suicide case: 'Forced conversion' vs 'family abuse', measured reportage vs trial by media |work=Newslaundry |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/02/05/lavanya-suicide-case-forced-conversion-vs-family-abuse-measured-reportage-vs-trial-by-media |access-date=17 February 2022}}</ref>
==Incident==
Lavanya Muruganantham was a 17-year-old student of [[Sacred Heart Girls Higher Secondary School]], a recognized minority school administered by [[Franciscan Missionaries of Mary]] in [[Thanjavur]] district of [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Tamil-Nadu,-nun-arrested-on-(false)-charges-of-inciting-suicide-and-conversion-54974.html|title = Tamil Nadu, nun arrested on (False) charges of inciting suicide and conversion}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/thanjavur-student-suicide-no-complaints-over-religion-school-10-yrs-says-dept-160332|title = Thanjavur student suicide: No complaints over religion at school in 10 yrs, says dept|date = 28 January 2022}}</ref>
On 9 January 2022, Lavanya consumed pesticide in an attempt to kill herself.<ref name="SCMP">{{cite news |title=Uproar in India at Hindu teen's death amid 'forced Christian conversion' |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3165513/india-hindu-teens-death-amid-forced-christian |access-date=17 February 2022 |work=South China Morning Post |date=1 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref> After she was taken to a hospital, she regained consciousness.<ref name="NDTV">{{cite news |last= Stalin|first= J Sam Daniel|date=21 January 2022|title=In Video Before Suicide, Tamil Nadu Schoolgirl Alleged Abuse By Warden|url=https://www.ndtv.com/tamil-nadu-news/tamil-nadu-student-alleges-abuse-forced-conversion-kills-self-2720888|newspaper=NDTV}}</ref> She died on 19 January 2022.<ref name="NDTV" />
==Investigation==
After Lavanya's death the hostel warden was arrested by the police under the [[Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015]], on charges of abatement to suicide.<ref name="NDTV" /> Police have interrogated 50 people connected to Lavanya.<ref name="SCMP" />
The school have denied any wrongdoing in the case.<ref name="SCMP" /> The girl's parents alleged that they had not seriously considered their complaints of their daughter being pressured to convert.<ref name="News18-2">{{cite news |last= Narasimhan|first= Anand|date=22 January 2022|title=TN 'Forced Conversion' Case: Was Asked Directly to Convert My Girl to Christianity for 'Respect', Say Parents|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/tn-forced-conversion-case-was-asked-directly-to-convert-my-girl-to-christianity-for-respect-say-parents-4685651.html|newspaper=News18}}</ref>
Senior police officer in Thanjavur, Ravali Priya Gandhapuneni, said that the police had recorded Lavanya's complaint, statement and dying declaration in front of the Judicial Magistrate. Lavanya did not speak about religious conversion while recording her statements. The parents of the girl also did not allege religious conversion. She noted that the police had also started investigation on the allegations of conversion.<ref name="NDTV" />
Police were also searching for the person who filmed the video shared on social media to verify the authenticity of the shared video and the motives of the person in releasing the video. According to the police officer, revealing the identity of a minor girl is a violation of law.<ref name="NDTV" />
===Tamil Nadu Child Rights Watch===
Tamil Nadu Child Rights Watch (TNCRW) along with Right to Education Forum – Tamil Nadu, Campaign Against Child Labour – Tamil Nadu and Shout for Freedom had set up a fact finding team headed by an Advocate.<ref name="TNCRW" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Conversion Ruled Out In Thanjavur Case {{!}} Chennai News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/conversion-ruled-out-in-thanjavur-case/articleshow/89513910.cms |access-date=6 March 2022 |work=The Times of India |agency=TNN |date=12 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The team was to submit its report after meeting Lavanya's family members, Department of School Education officials, school authorities, classmates and the representatives of local government.<ref name="formed">{{cite news |title=Fact finding committee formed |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/fact-finding-committee-formed/article38341323.ece |access-date=6 March 2022 |work=The Hindu |date=28 January 2022 |language=en-IN}}</ref> The team reported that the alleged religious conversion angle in the death was 'fabricated and being politicised'.<ref name="TNCRW">{{cite news |title=Thanjavur girl's death: fact finding team rules out conversion angle |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/thanjavur-girls-death-fact-finding-team-rules-out-conversion-angle/article38410100.ece |access-date=6 March 2022 |work=The Hindu |date=11 February 2022 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
TNCRW's team found that the alleged religious conversion angle in the death was 'fabricated and being politicised'. The fact finding team had inquired with the public and the village panchayat members about the claims of religious conversion. They found that the management did not use words related to religious conversion.<ref name="TNCRW" /> The team believed that the environment at home and hostel to have caused Lavanya's suicide. The report also noted that the school management and hostel management did not address the psychological issues faced by the student, nor did they try to solve it by discussing the issues with her parents.<ref name="TNCRW" />
==Court proceedings==
The parents of the girl approached the [[Madras High Court]] on 21 January asking for a CBI investigation.<ref name="Week">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=31 January 2022|title=Madras HC orders transfer of Thanjavur student death case to CBI|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2022/01/31/madras-hc-orders-transfer-of-thanjavur-student-death-case-to-cbi.html|newspaper=The Week}}</ref> On 31 January, upholding the plea from Lavanya's parents the Madras High Court ordered the case to be transferred to the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] for further investigation.<ref name="SCMP" /><ref name="The News Minute">{{cite news |last= Fathima|first= Azeefa|date=31 January 2022|title=Conversion angle not improbable: What Madras HC said on Thanjavur student suicide case|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/conversion-angle-not-improbable-what-madras-hc-said-thanjavur-student-suicide-case-160421|newspaper=The News Minute}}</ref>
On 14 February 2022, the Supreme Court hearing the plea of Tamil Nadu government challenging the Madras High Court judgement, refused to intervene with the High court judgement.<ref name="thenewsminute">{{cite news |date=14 February 2022|title=Lavanya suicide case: SC allows CBI probe to continue|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/lavanya-suicide-case-sc-allows-cbi-probe-continue-160947|newspaper=thenewsminute}}</ref>
==Politics ==
''[[South China Morning Post]]'' reported that the far-right Hindu groups in the region often accused the health care and educational institutions run by the Christian organisations of [[proselytising]].<ref name="SCMP" />
The opposition NDA alliance partner, [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) announced that it will set up a committee for investigating the allegations of coerced conversion.<ref name="SCMP" /><ref name="Hindu">{{cite news |last= Hebbar|first= Nistula|date=27 January 2022|title=Thanjavur girl death by suicide - BJP sets up committee|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/thanjavur-girl-death-by-suicide-bjp-sets-up-committee/article38334279.ece|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> K. Annamalai, the president of Tamil Nadu wing of BJP was leading the political campaign that focused on the death of the girl.<ref name="SCMP" /> Annamalai had shared Lavanya's video on his [[Twitter]] profile.<ref name="NDTV" />
[[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu]] [[M. K. Stalin]] accused the BJP of doing [[Religious violence in India|communal politics]] over the incident.<ref name="Week" />
On 28 January, a group of the villagers from different religions of Michaelpatti village submitted petitions to Thanjavur Collector alleging that "vested interests" were attempting to disrupt the religious harmony of their village using the incident of Lavanya's death. Their village of 800 families following Christianity, Hinduism and Islam lived amicably since five generations. So far no one had attempted to convert the villagers into another religion, neither in the village nor in the school.<ref name="Michaelpatti 29 January 2022">{{cite news |title=Thanjavur girl's suicide: Michaelpatti rallies against 'vested interests' disrupting communal harmony |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/jan/29/thanjavur-girls-suicide-michaelpatti-rallies-against-vested-interests-disruptingcommunal-harmony-2412619.html |access-date=17 February 2022 |work=The New Indian Express |date=29 January 2022}}</ref> They demanded that independent committees created by the political parties and religious organizations be prevented from conducting investigations in their village. The girl's father too petitioned the Collector, seeking action against school authorities for "forcing his daughter to end her life."<ref name="Thanjavur Collector">{{cite news |title=Thanjavur Collector receives multiple pleas over girl's death.  |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/thanjavur-collector-receives-multiple-pleas-over-girls-death/article38341600.ece |access-date=17 February 2022 |work=The Hindu |date=29 January 2022 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
The parent-teachers association president, residents, parents of students and alumni of the school, where Lavanya studied, submitted their separate petition to the Collector, seeking protection for the School. They stated that since the death, some political parties and religious outfits were carrying out a "smear campaign" against the school and teachers. In their petition, action against these parties and outfits was sought.<ref name="Thanjavur Collector" />
Members of the minority groups in [[Karur]] lodged a legal complaint against the state BJP president  K. Annamalai at Thanthonimalai police station accusing him of making attempts to disturb the religious harmony. The Police did not immediately, file an [[First Information Report|FIR]] on the complaint.<ref name="Michaelpatti 29 January 2022" />
The accused hostel keeper was released on bail on 13 February 2022. She was greeted by DMK's Trichy East Assembly member [[Inigo S. Irudayaraj]], and presented with a shawl and garland.<ref name="maalaimalar">{{cite news |date=13 February 2022|title=Release of hostel guard arrested in student suicide case|url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/news/district/2022/02/13144438/3481155/TRICHY-NEWS-HOSTEL-WARDEN-RELEASE-BAIL.vpf|newspaper=maalaimalar}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lavanya case: CBI team begins probe, visits school where she studied |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/lavanya-case-cbi-team-begins-probe-visits-school-where-she-studied-161217 |access-date=24 February 2022 |work=The News Minute |date=22 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Iruthayaraj stated that she had worked in the rural areas for the education of poor children. He added, "Justice will prevail. We will continue to work for religious harmony."<ref name="MLA">{{cite news |last1=TK |first1=Smitha |title=Thanjavur Girl Suicide: DMK MLA Greets Accused Warden Outside Prison |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/dmk-mla-inigo-iruthayaraj-welcoming-mary-warden-accused-suicide-girl-tamil-nadu-thanjavur |access-date=6 March 2022 |work=TheQuint |date=14 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
==Unverified video==
After her death, an unverified video was shared in the social media captured by [[Vishwa Hindu Parishad]]'s Ariyalur District Secretary,<ref>{{cite web |date=27 January 2022 |title=VHP man shot 3 videos of Thanjavur student, no mention of conversion in new video |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/vhp-man-shot-3-videos-thanjavur-student-no-mention-conversion-new-video-160291}}</ref> in which Lavanya is seen alleging that she was forced into chores related to cleaning, maintenance and administration of the hostel.<ref name="NDTV" /> The video suggested that Lavanya was being pressured to become Christian<ref name="SCMP" />
Three more videos were later leaked.<ref name="Newslaundry 5 February 2022" /> ''[[The Hindu]]'' reported that the second video of Lavanya appeared to have been shot while Lavanya was undergoing treatment at the hospital. The video purportedly showed that Lavanya had attempted suicide as she was unable to concentrate in studies due to the non-academic work she had to do in the hostel. The video did not mention religious conversion.<ref name="Hindu Fresh video">{{cite news |date=27 January 2022 |title=Fresh video of girl who died by suicide in Thanjavur indicates no religious conversion |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/fresh-video-of-girl-who-died-by-suicide-in-thanjavur-indicates-no-religious-conversion/article38333077.ece |access-date=17 February 2022}}</ref><ref name="Thanjavur Collector" /> She identified herself in one video by providing personal information. In another video, she explained about the chores she was made to do in school, and in another, she talked about her stepmother.<ref name="Newslaundry 5 February 2022" />
The videos were first investigated by the police and the case heard in the Madurai bench of the Madras High court.<ref name="Thanjavur Collector" />
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:January 2022 events in India]]
[[Category:Drug-related suicides in India]]
[[Category:History of Thanjavur]]
[[Category:2022 suicides]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:History of Tamil Nadu (1947–present)]]