Warangal couple suicide: Son alleges neighbours pressured parents to convert
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Hyderabad: The 14-year-old son of a couple who died by suicide last week has alleged that their neighbours repeatedly pressured his parents to convert to Christianity, a claim that police say has not yet been substantiated and remains under investigation.
The couple, Ravikumar and Sirisha, originally from Warangal, died by suicide after jumping in front of a speeding train at Ghatkesar Railway Station on July 2.
The allegation of forced religious conversion surfaced on Thursday after the couple's son claimed that their neighbours, identified as Venkat and Pramila, had repeatedly pressured his parents to embrace Christianity.
Confirming the development, Secunderabad Government Railway Police Inspector Sai Eshwar said the boy made the allegation during questioning on July 7.
"He said the neighbours tried to force his parents to convert," Eshwar said, adding that the teenager, who is currently staying in Warangal, told investigators that his parents had strongly resisted the alleged attempts.
However, the officer said the allegation has not been verified so far.
"Till now we couldn't get any information," Eshwar said, adding that the investigation is still underway.
Police said Venkat and Pramila are currently being questioned and have denied the allegations.
Earlier investigations had indicated that the couple had been persuaded by the neighbours to invest in a ready-mix concrete business after being promised a monthly income of Rs 20,000.
Trusting the proposal, Ravikumar allegedly pledged his wife's gold ornaments and invested Rs 20 lakh in the venture.
According to investigators, Venkat allegedly withdrew from the business after three months and stopped making the promised payments. As interest accumulated on the pledged gold, Ravikumar and Sirisha reportedly came under severe financial and mental distress.
Police said the neighbours have admitted that they had asked Ravikumar to invest in the business.
Initially, a case was registered under Section 194 (unnatural or suspicious death) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The case has since been altered to Section 108 (abetment of suicide) as the investigation progresses.
