By Matters India Report
Kottayam, May 12, 2020: A team of doctors from the forensic department of the government medical college hospital in Kottayam, Kerala state, has visited a convent where a novice was found dead in a well.
The team on May 11 examined the spot, including the depth and level of water in the well in the compound of the Baselian Convent at Paliakkara in Thiruvalla, around 120 km north of Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital.
The body of Divya P John was fished out of the well by police and fire and rescue personnel on May 7, the day of her death. The 21-year-old woman had been undergoing training to become a nun.
According to a member of the forensic team, they visited the spot at the request of the investigating officers. The autopsy report had found drowning as the cause of death.
Meanwhile, human rights activist Jomon Puthenpurackal said that the crucial information is the time of death of the novice. One needs to know at what time she had lost her life, whether it was during night or during day.
“Either the deceased had slipped into the well or committed suicide. The Church has the responsibility to bring out the truth,” said Puthenpurackal, who had earlier fought a legal battle seeking justice for Sister Abhaya, who was also found dead in a well in a convent in Kottayam 28 years ago.
Sister Lucy Kalappura who was recently expelled from the Franciscan Clarist Congregation in Kerala, regretted that nobody cares for the death of nuns in convents. “Despite repeated incidents of human rights violations inside the convents there has been no action,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Thiruvalla diocese has stated that it would extend all support to the police probe.
The parents of the deceased, in a TV interview, said they had no complaints against the police investigation and the Church’s approach to the case. However, they regretted media reports that said the woman’s body had some clothes missing when it was taken from the well.
Some members of the convent checked the well after hearing a thud and splash sound around 12 noon on May 7. The convent authorities immediately informed the Fire Department and the police.
Divya was taken out of the well and shifted to a private hospital by the police. She was declared dead on arrival.
Heart felt sympathies to the Parents and family members as well as to the sisters. Hope, the truth comes out. Let us approach the issue with compassion.
Why did the forensic team take 4 days to visit the place of death. Incriminating evidence, if any, would have been removed.