Time and again involvement of Christian NGOs has been alleged in illegal activities across the country. This time it is St Joseph’s Hospice, which is registered under the name ‘Light of the Blind’ accused of harvesting bones and organs of the senior citizens
TS Venkatesan
Tamil Nadu version of infamous Noida Nithari serial killings came to surface with the chance seizure of fake ambulance that belonged to Christian hospice functioning in Salavakkam in Kanchipuram district, 75 km from Chennai.
It seems, the money starved Christian missionaries, have been indulging in illegal activities for their survival. Immediately after assuming charge at the Centre, Prime Minister Modi Government had tightened the grip on the NGOs that received crores of rupees as donations from foreign countries which were used for subversive activities. This has choked main chords of many a Christian and Muslim NGOs in the country.
Be that as it may back home in Tamil Nadu, on February 2 around 3pm an Ambulance-like van was moving on Salavakkam-Edayamputhur Road when one of the occupants in that, namely Annammal, who was also being taken to the Home, shouted in high pitch to save her. Hearing this, the villagers intercepted the van and rescued Annammal of Thriuvallur and Selvaraj of Dindugal. A search revealed among vegetables in jute sacks, there was a body wrapped in a cloth. The villagers staged a protest demanding action against the home and the van was taken to Salavakkam police station.
The police on February 20 arrested one Rajesh, who was said to be driving the van in which the body and two elderly were being taken to the Home. But, the police also arrested Karunakaran, a local activist, who raised the issue over the body being carried in a van to the Home and filed the formal police complaint on the issue.
“Karunakaran had filed complaints even by meeting senior police officers. But, no action was taken”, said a villager. The body that was transported in the van was sent to a government hospital in Chennai
“Suspected organ trade came to light in St. Joseph hospice van held with an elderly woman’s dead-body staked in between vegetable sacks. St Joseph hospice reportedly kidnaps orphaned elders, destitute and starves them to death for organ sales. Some were tortured”, allege villagers. The St Joseph’s Hospice, Christian NGO, is registered in the name ‘Light for the Blind’ as a charitable trust in Tamil Nadu.
Startled by the facts, a battery of over 60 government officials from various departments have descended on Paleswaram village in Kancheepuram district to find out the truth. The village is situated in the lush green Paddy fields. On the other side of a small hillock, St Josephs hospice, a huge premise spread across acres, stands away from the village. It was like a guarded fort. No strangers were allowed to prowl on this Home. Revenue Divisional Officer Raji, Tahsildar Akila Devi, Maduranthagam DSP Madhivanan, Dr Uma Devi, District pollution board officials were among others present in the team that visited the Home. District Collector has ordered thorough check of all others homes.
Stories were rife about how the “bones were exported” by storing the dead bodies in the multi-tier vault for a few months and remains were soon retrieved. While the police tried to shoo away the scribes who want to have a scoop story, the villagers were ready to share tales on the home.
The high walls around the home and the multi-tier vault within the same premises which is meant to take care of the destitute elderly, where the bodies of demised inmates would be disposed with little monitoring from any third party, have been fuelling speculations about the home.
As per well laid procedures, the vault for the dead could be opened only after 13 years and the remains can be pushed into a pit so that the vault could be reused. But, a police officer who was in the know of inspection said, the home could be clearing the vault in a matter of a few months.
Villagers said they have been making complaints repeatedly against the home, but in vain.
Officials were tight lipped. They merely found a few violations and said action would be taken accordingly. “The license of the home had expired in last year September itself, but they have applied and it is pending,” an official said. He said the police are also investigating and a detailed report would be filed to the District Collector. The home was run by one Priest Thomas.
Villagers say, the home had promised free boarding, lodging and medical facilities to senior citizens, destitute men and women, orphans, mentally challenged persons. They targeted people from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and northern Indian states. Once they entered the home inmates were forced to starve for days together. It is alleged that their vital parts like heart, kidneys, liver, and eyes were traded to private hospitals for money. Despite bringing it the notice of authorities about the mysterious happenings and alleged organ and bone trading nothing had happened.
The hospice which has been functioning for the last seven years, has more than 370 inmates with 30 employees including cooks and care takers. “We heard strange voices, cries during nights. We have seen more deaths but certificates were not received for them from the authorities”, said villagers. Central intelligence agencies too visited and made discrete inquires.
Denying the accusations, Thomas said in a Television interview,” we are not trading into bones or the cadaver organ harvesting. People who came here were old aged and in the last stages of their lives. So, it is quite natural for high mortality rate. So far we have given a decent burial of over 1,500 people. To meet space constraints, we have built 20 x 40 size vaults with cement mortar coated. We follow the most scientific Romanian method to avoid pollution issues”.
“The people who died in the home were Tamilians. The Tamil Chauvinists and pseudo-secular groups keep a stoic silence over the issue because it is being run by a Christian missionary. But they make hue and cry in the affairs of Hindu mutts more particularly in Jaggi’s Coimbatore Isha centre”, said a Hindu Munnani leader Ganesan. “The deaths were not reported and registered with local authorities. No Death Certificates were obtained, which is mandatory for both natural and unnatural deaths.” he pointed out.
Villagers say, dead bodies are kept in concrete coffins with sieve like set-up, which are attached to a tunnel, fluids from decomposed bodies reach the tunnel, bone remains are removed by hospice for trade. Despite our repeated complaints no one is accused of suspicious deaths. It could be over 1,500 people who died in the last 7 years. Instead of arresting them, police arrested people who preferred to complaint. As usual none of the pseudo-secularists is raising voice. H Raja of BJP in his twitter said, “It is common knowledge that the media in TN is totally prejudiced against Hindus. It will never debate issues like this”.
Strangely, barring a few in the media, others thought this incident did not deserve to be reported in their columns as the St Joseph hospice is being run by a Christian. BJP activists demand a CBI probe into the mysterious affairs of St Joseph Hospices. They also demanded that inmates should be rescued by authorities and given shelters in government-run homes. “It is a proverbial tip of the ice berg. Many more skeletons would tumble upon if a thorough probe is ordered”, say villagers. n
