கேரளா கன்யாஸ்திரி பாலியற் தொந்தரவால் இன்னொரு கன்யாஸ்திரி தற்கொலையா?

கற்பழித்து சூறையாடச்சொல்லும் கர்த்தர் என்ற பேயை கும்பிடுபவர்களிடமிருந்து இப்படிப்பட்ட செய்திகள் வருவதில் ஆச்சரியமில்லை.

Nun kills self, sexual harassment alleged
Posted online: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 0048 hrs Print Email
Shaju Philip

Kollam, August 12: The suicide of a Catholic nun in Kerala’s Kollam district on Tuesday attained a serious twist with her father alleging that his daughter was sexually harassed by a senior nun in the convent.

The body of Anupa Mary, 24, an inmate of St Mary’s Convent, near Thankassery in here, was found hanging in the convent on Monday evening. Anupa, a native of Kundara in Kollam, had also left a suicide note, saying she was forced to take the extreme step due to the mental harassment meted out by a senior nun.

The nun’s father, Pappachan, told the media on Tuesday that she had been sexually exploited by a senior nun in the same convent several times in the two months after Anupa moved in. Anupa had shared this shocking experience with her mother and sister, he said.

Kollam DSP P C Suresh Kumar told The Indian Express that a case of unnatural death had been registered. The suicide note had mentioned that she had been subjected to mental torture by a senior nun. It did not contain any reference to sexual harassment. On interrogation, the convent Superior said she had initiated action only to ensure discipline of the convent.

The DSP said the statement of the nun’s father, recorded on Monday night, had not contained any reference to sexual harassment. Police were also to get any complaint from her father, he said. It is learnt that Pappachan would file a complaint with the police after Anupa’s funeral on Tuesday night.

Kerala Women’s Commission chairperson Justice D Sreedevi said stern action should be taken against the culprits behind the suicide of the nun.

A few months ago, Sreedevi’s observation that only women above the age of 18 should be admitted for nunhood had snowballed into a major controversy.

Christian clergy in Kerala has been confronted with several sexcapdes in the recent past. Last month, a priest belonging to the Jacobite Church in Kottayam was arrested in connection with the serial rape of a minor girl three years back.

Two months back, a Catholic nun from Aluva near Kochi was defrocked after her affair with the driver of the hospital, where she worked as a receptionist, became public. The driver had shot his sexual affair with the nun in a mobile camera. The hardcore video got circulated, creating shock waves in the church.

editor@expressindia.com