Forced conversion drives Tamil Nadu woman to immolate self; stopped by police
India Today
Valarmathi tried to immolate herself outside the Ramanathapuram Collector's office in Tamil Nadu, but was stopped by officials present there. She alleged that a family was forcing her to convert to Christianity and that even after approaching the police, no action was taken.
A Tamil Nadu woman attempting to set herself on fire outside the Ramanathapuram Collector’s office was stopped by policemen and officials present there. Valarmathi from Pacheri village said that she and her family were being forced to convert to Christianity by the family of a man called Devdas in her village. She alleged that the man's family were torturing her and her family for refusing to do so.
Since the police didn’t take any action, she attempted to immolate herself. She has alleged that religious conversion was happening in her village. She said that since she refused to convert, the family of a man named Devdas had been harassing her and her family since 2019.
Valarmathi went to the Collector’s office on May 15 during the time period when officials listened to public complaints and queries and attempted to immolate herself. However, police and the public who were present on the premises stopped her.
They have been harassing me since 2019, says Valarmathi, alleging that she and her family were being forced to convert to Christianity from Hinduism.
Valarmathi said, “Devdas’s family had blocked the path to my house and filed false cases against me. We went to the court which ruled in our favour. Then they tried to run me over with a Tata Ace as well. So, I approached the police”
“They promised to take action but didn’t do anything. My son was hit by eight men on the East Coast Road (ECR) road but he was rescued by the public. In my village, Devdas’s family is the one causing us harm”, said Valarmathi.
