Priest who committed suicide for rebirth cremated

"A three-day "miracle" drama in Chhattisgarh's industrial town of Raigarh ended on Monday afternoon after a Hindu priest, who had committed suicide promising to return to life within 72 hours of his death, was cremated.

Hundreds of people had laid siege around the body of 25-year-old Manoj Baghel, who ended his life on Saturday by consuming poison at a temple in Raigarh, about 200 km northeast of state capital, Raipur. Baghel had claimed that he would come back to life.

"The miracle drama is now over as the people, who had surrounded the body of the dead priest to witness the rebirth, handed over the corpse to the police for post-mortem on Monday afternoon," Superintendent of Police in Raigarh, J K Thorate said."

IBNLive.com, Dec 24, 2007

Back to the drawing board... or not.

Suicide leap woman 'told she was possessed'

"A British woman threw herself to her death in Paris after two French "mediums" convinced her that she was possessed by evil spirits, a court has heard.
Miss Hateley, who also claimed in her final hours to be plagued by hallucinations and that she was the victim of a sect that had fleeced her of her savings, committed suicide on Aug 26, 2000.
The circumstances surrounding her death have only now come to the attention of the French courts alongside related investigations into the alleged activities of the mediums. The two men, Grégory Selo and Laurent Sousa, have appeared in court to face the charge of "non-assistance of a person in danger", which they deny.

[...]

She saw an advert for a medium in a newspaper and made contact with Selo, aged 25 at the time and a convicted drug dealer who called himself "Angel of Gods".
"He gave her advice over the phone, told her to lie down to energise herself and she kept giving money," said Mrs Hawary.
"Little by little she became more fragile. He was aware of this, and exploited her weakness to take money. She borrowed from everyone - her friends, family, from work."
She spent 10,000 euros (£6,800) - including all her savings - over a six-month period, trying to rid herself of her bedevilment."

Telegraph.co.uk, 15/09/2007

Wife urged man to die for jihad, court told

"A young wife urged her husband to die waging jihad, and offered herself and her baby son as martyrs, a court heard yesterday.

[...]

The letter which the court heard was written by Ms El Hor to her husband stated: "The moment has come that you and I have to separate for the sake of Allah.
"I am happy that Allah has granted you the chance to be a martyr ... I wish I could go with you because I too feel obligated.
"Maybe one day I can follow you. If I can't, I will send our son to you so he can follow his father's footsteps."

The Guardian, May 31, 2007