The Whole Story Behind the #Justice for Lavanya

On the 19th of January, 2022, Lavanya, a 12th-grade girl breathed her last, days after she attempted suicide. The girl in her dying declaration alleged that she was tortured by her school authorities for her refusal to convert to Christianity. After that #Justiceforlavanya was trending on all social media platforms.

Background of victim

The deceased was a student in Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Thirukattupali in Thanjavur, Tamilnadu. She had been living near her school at the St. Michael’s Girls Hostel for the past five years.

Incident 

The government-aided Christian Missionary School authorities had been pressurizing her to convert to Christianity. However, Lavanya refused to change her religion. Angered by her refusal, the school authorities canceled her leave application for the Pongal celebrations. 

Lavanya was forced to clean toilets, cook food, wash dishes and do the warden’s personal work. Lavanya who could not take any further humiliation reportedly consumed pesticide from the school garden in a bid to end her life.

Medical Treatment of Victim

On 9th January 2022, Lavanya was taken to a local clinic after continuously vomiting. The warden of the hostel then called her parents to take her home. She was then taken to the Tanjore Government Medical Hospital where she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). With 85% of her lungs already intoxicated, she breathed her last on 19th January 2022.

Translation of Viral video

According to the Republic World, speaking in Tamil in the viral video the girl stated, “My name is Lavanya. They (school) had asked my parents in my presence if they can convert me to Christianity and help her for further studies. Since I didn’t accept, they kept scolding me.” She also named a nun known as Rachel Mary who had allegedly tortured her.

Petition filed by Father of the Victim

The victim’s father S. Murugantham submitted his petition before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court demanding a Crime-Branch, Crime Investigation Department (CB-CID) investigation into his daughter’s death. 

In his petition, he highlighted how his daughter was made to clean toilets, cook food and wash utensils by the hostel warden Sagaya Mary for her refusal to convert to Christianity.

Accusations against Thanjavur Police

The victim’s father also accused the Thanjavur Police of trying to protect the perpetrators. Additionally, he informed the court that the cops were trying to harass and implicate a man named Muthuvel, the Thanjavur district secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) who had recorded Lavanya’s statement, for revealing the identity of a minor girl.

Interim Order by the Court

On 22nd January 2022, the Bench passed an interim order directing the police to not harass the man who and “conduct themselves appropriately”. On 24th January 2022, the court directed Mr. Muthuvel to submit his phone to the investigating officer. 

It is important to note that even after more than a week of the girl’s death the Police FIR fails to even mention the conversion bid. On 31st January 2022, the court decided to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Reaction

While prominent personalities like Actress Pranitha Subhash and journalist Anshul Saxena have already demanded “Justice for Lavanya”, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and the Bajrang Dal have held massive protests and even hunger strikes in Tamil Nadu. We sincerely hope that justice is served and the system changes for the better.

Moreover, we need to realize that just by trending a hashtag #Justiceforlavanya, we are not doing our responsibility better. More people need to come together to remove the loopholes in the system for a better and safe world.

Written By - Megh Shah