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	Kerala Nun Kills Self over 'Sexual Abuse' Howrah News Service August 12, 2008 http://howrah.org/india_news/24033.html Aug. 12: The suicide by a 22-year-old nun in Kollam has stirred up controversy with her father alleging on Tuesday that his daughter was being sexually harassed by a senior nun of the same convent. Sister Bindu Anupa of the Kollam St. Mary's Convent was found hanging from the ceiling in her room on Monday evening. She had left a note saying that the harassment in the convent had crossed all limits and she no longer wanted to live. Her father, Pappachan, a cook in the Bishop's House, said that his daughter had complained that an older nun in the convent had been sexually harassing her. "My daughter was forced to do menial jobs all day and at nights, this woman sexually abused her," said a shocked Mr Pappachan. "She wrote me several letters regarding this. It was becoming unbearable for her." Sister Bindu Anupa had come to the St Mary's Convent only two months ago. On Tuesday, she was missing at tea time and the other inmates went to her room to check on her and found her hanging by a saree. Her suicide occurs at a time when the Kerala Women's Commission had issued a directive saying that minor girls should not be forced to become nuns. The church had strongly opposed the commission's directive. The commission chairperson, Justice Sridevi, said here that the suicide of sister Anupa should open society's eyes to the problems being faced by nuns. "When we spoke about it we were criticised," she said. "But we will continue to raise the issue. Several nuns have approached us with their problems." Justice Sridevi added that the commission will closely monitor the police probe into the suicide.
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