A 26-year-old nun allegedly committed suicide after consuming poison in the city on Saturday. Her relatives refused to accept the body after postmortem at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH), alleging that she was tortured by church authorities. However, the reason for her death is yet to be ascertained.
Angeline Nirmala Reena from Sowripalayam, became a nun in 2004 and devoted her life to the Roman Catholic Church, police said. She had been residing on the St.John De Britto Church campus on Lawley Road for the past four months.
While having breakfast on Saturday, she informed other nuns that she had consumed pesticide and fell unconscious. Reena was rushed to a hospital at RS Puram where she was given first aid and was transferred to St.Maris Hospital at Podanur for further treatment. She died at the hospital without responding to treatment. The body was sent to the CMCH for postmortem.
On Sunday, Reenas relatives refused to accept her body. They blocked the ambulance in which the body was being transported by the church authorities to Puliyakulam burial ground. They demanded action against church authorities and nuns for the death of Reena. They also demanded the appearance of the bishop in person at the CMCH to explain what had happened to Reena.
Reena’s mother, Alish Reta Mary, said her daughter killed herself after she was tortured mentally. Her brother A Charles Irudhayaraj said: “My sister was studying BA (English literature) final year at Nirmala College for Women at Race Course. She was tortured by a nun. When she lodged a complaint with the authorities, they failed to take any action. ”
Seven nuns who were present at the hospital refused to talk to the media. However, police pacified the relatives and the body was sent to the burial ground.
“We are interrogating a few nuns and church authorities regarding the suicide. We will be able to ascertain the reason for her suicide only after a detailed probe,” said inspector Muthumalai, R S Puram police station. A case has been registered under CrPC Section 174 (unnatural death). TOI
