The death of a priesthood internee at the Marthoma Theological Seminary at Kottayam has become a controversy with his parents submitting a memoranda to Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan and top officials of the State police requesting a probe into the incident. The seminary authorities had termed the death as a case of suicide, and there was no evidence in the post-mortem report to prove otherwise, but the parents firmly suspect that their son had not committed suicide.
Robin John, a fresh priesthood intern at the seminary, was found hanging from the ceiling of his hostel room on May 10, just eight days after he had joined the seminary. Robin's father John said there were contradictions in the versions of death provided by the principal and Robin's classmates. He said only a thorough probe could bring out the truth about his son's death. Robin had joined the seminary after passing Master of Social Welfare.
Robin's parents told newsmen that there was no reason why their son should commit suicide. They suspected that Robin's death was related to the cruel ragging he should have undergone in the hostel of the seminary. They said the seminary, though an institution for moulding priests, was infamous for several incidents of ragging..
"My son had not hung himself from the ceiling, I am sure. If he had been found hanging, he was hung there after he was dead," John said. He also said that he was not ready to believe the versions given by the priests in the seminary or senior clerics of the church.
"I told the respected priests that the truth could not be hidden forever. Even if the truth could be kept hidden from the police and the society, they will have to answer the question when the day of reckoning comes," he said.
There have been several incidents of ragging in the seminary and in many cases this had become issues in the local society and the church also. At least nine interns had been expelled from the seminary on charges of ragging. But priests at the seminary tried to play down the matter. However, they did not deny the reports of ragging.
"There has not been even a single incident of ragging which is similar to what we generally call ragging. There is a particular fear in the society about ragging. This could be due to reports of ragging from the new self-financing colleges. Nothing of that sort happens here," said a priest.
"I can assure you that no ragging would take place in here. There could be a welcome party or something like that. But nothing like ragging has ever taken place here," he said.
Robin John, a fresh priesthood intern at the seminary, was found hanging from the ceiling of his hostel room on May 10, just eight days after he had joined the seminary. Robin's father John said there were contradictions in the versions of death provided by the principal and Robin's classmates. He said only a thorough probe could bring out the truth about his son's death. Robin had joined the seminary after passing Master of Social Welfare.
Robin's parents told newsmen that there was no reason why their son should commit suicide. They suspected that Robin's death was related to the cruel ragging he should have undergone in the hostel of the seminary. They said the seminary, though an institution for moulding priests, was infamous for several incidents of ragging..
"My son had not hung himself from the ceiling, I am sure. If he had been found hanging, he was hung there after he was dead," John said. He also said that he was not ready to believe the versions given by the priests in the seminary or senior clerics of the church.
"I told the respected priests that the truth could not be hidden forever. Even if the truth could be kept hidden from the police and the society, they will have to answer the question when the day of reckoning comes," he said.
There have been several incidents of ragging in the seminary and in many cases this had become issues in the local society and the church also. At least nine interns had been expelled from the seminary on charges of ragging. But priests at the seminary tried to play down the matter. However, they did not deny the reports of ragging.
"There has not been even a single incident of ragging which is similar to what we generally call ragging. There is a particular fear in the society about ragging. This could be due to reports of ragging from the new self-financing colleges. Nothing of that sort happens here," said a priest.
"I can assure you that no ragging would take place in here. There could be a welcome party or something like that. But nothing like ragging has ever taken place here," he said.
~ A concerned reader!
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