Woman forced to convert to Christianity tries to self-immolate in TN

Published by
T S Venkatesan

A shocking and chilling incident has come out from Tamil Nadu, where a woman tried to self-immolate due to harassment by the converted Christians.

Valarmathi has been a resident of Karuppa Kudumban Pacheri near RS Mangalam in the Ramanathapuram district for the past ten years with her family. She said that converted Christians in her village are forcing her to embrace Christianity.

Unable to bear the harassment of Christians and the inaction of police on her complaint, she came to the Ramanathapuram Collectorate with a kerosene can and matchbox and tried to self-immolate in protest. Fortunately, fire safety personnel on the premises prevented her from alighting herself and sent her to the government hospital for treatment.

Talking to the media after she was saved from a self-immolation attempt, Valarmathi said that Christians in her area filed fake cases against her and harassed her by blocking the road and attacking family members.

Valarmathi said that her son was beaten to death for refusing to convert and filing a complaint against Christians. She also said that no action was taken despite filing complaints at the RS Mangalam police station.”

“Christians continue to harass my family. Local police are not taking any action despite complaining many times,” she told the media.

In another incident in Adaimathippankulam in Tirunelveli district, a Christian mob attacked Hindus resulting in a woman receiving head injuries. There has been a dispute about using a common village space between Christians and Hindus for a long time. A case has been pending in court. The court has ordered none should go to the controversial place as an interim measure.

Christian had announced to conduct the Asana festival at the controversial site on May 16th. On May 14th, Hindus from the village, along with Hindu Munnani functionaries, lodged a complaint with Munirpallam police. On the next day, some Christians entered the controversial site and started the festival. On knowing this, Hindus came to the place and opposed holding the festival at the place. After a heated verbal argument, Christians attacked the Hindus by pelting stones at them. One Pushpa, a Hindu woman, sustained head injuries in the melee. She was taken to a hospital for treatment. The village is still under the grip of tension.

Several incidents of forced conversion to Christianity have emerged in the recent days from Tamil Nadu, like the suicide of Lavanya in Thanjavur, school students in Kanyakumari and Coimbatore government-aided schools, construction of walls blocking common passage, encroaching government lands to build prayer halls, wooing young tribal children who are then made to pose as orphans to raise money from foreign donors. In all the cases, police have turned a blind eye and have official blessings of the state government.

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