Dindigul police have arrested two individuals, including a Christian pastor named Sudarsanam, on Thursday in connection to the death of a 38-year-old woman.
The woman, identified as Annai Indra, was a police constable at the All Women Police Station in Dindigul. Her huband Palraj lived in Pattiveeranpatti. She and her husband had separated two years ago, as her husband was opposed to her conversion to Christianity. As a result, she had deserted him and started living in a rented house in Nandavanapatti Treasury Colony with their two daughters, her sister Vasuki and Pastor Sudarsanam.
Indra had gone on a long leave since November 16. However, a couple of months ago, Indra had applied for voluntary retirement citing reasons of ill-health. When the cops went to serve her the order on Wednesday, they discovered a foul smell at her house. Further investigations under the directions of senior officers revealed that Indra had died on December 7. Her decaying body, covered with a cloth, was found in the house.
Indra’s sister and daughters claimed that Indra was ‘sleeping’ and that she would ‘wake up’ soon. Her family reportedly kept her corpse in the house under the belief that she would ‘resurrect’ from the dead.
The police has initiated an investigation into the case. A post-mortem examination was conducted on the spot due to the decayed nature of the corpse. The cops booked pastor Sudarsanam and the woman’s sister Vasuki under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 176 (Omission to give notice or information to public servant), 304A (causing death by negligence), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating). Pastor Sudarsanam who has been arrested is suspected to be the brain behind Indra’s conversion to Christianity.
The body has been sent to the Government Hospital for further examination.