Christian body to probe Rouvanjit's suicide

A Christian body in Kolkata will probe the Rouvanjit Rawla suicide case by setting an independent enquiry to ascertain truth behind the entire murky episode.

The Bangiya Christiya Pariseba last week said it was determined to investigate and expose those vying to tarnish the image of Christian institutions.

The body represents around 700 Protestant and Catholic churches and nearly 700 educational institutions run by Christians in West Bengal.

It has set up an inquiry committee that will look into the incident and clear the air.

La Martiniere is one of the oldest and the most prestigious institutions in the city managed by the Church of North India (CNI).

The suicide of the 12-year-old from that school in fact has led CNI to ban corporal punishment in all its schools.

Bangiya Christiya Pariseba state secretary Herod Mullick says it is a deliberate move to tarnish the image and prestige of Christian institutions.

A six-member committee will start the enquiry from Friday, he said.

Rouvanjit's father Ajay Rawla who earlier filed a police complaint against the principal and four other teachers welcomed the move.

"I am glad that they are looking into the matter because it needs to be looked in. What's happened here is that few individuals who have done the misdeeds that they have here are giving the school a bad name and are becoming synonymous with the institution," Rawla told Headlines Today.

"We have to separate these individuals from the institution and I think going forward is equally important that will let the investigation take its own course," he added.