A 16-year-old Scheduled Caste student of a government-aided school in Coimbatore died by suicide at his home on Wednesday after his family alleged months of caste- and food-related harassment by two classmates and a teacher. Peelamedu police have registered a case against the class teacher, headmaster and the two students.
The student, identified by police as A Akilan, was studying in Class XI at Shri K K Naidu Higher Secondary School on Avinashi Road near Peelamedu. Police said the case was registered under Sections 115(2) and 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
According to a complaint filed by Akilan’s mother, the alleged harassment began after the class teacher asked students who ate beef while enrolling Scheduled Caste students for a scholarship scheme a few months ago. Akilan and another student reportedly stood up. His mother alleged that two classmates subsequently taunted him by referring to his caste and also assaulted him.
The complaint further alleged that Akilan had informed the teacher and headmaster about the harassment, but that no effective action was taken. These allegations are now part of the police investigation and have not been established in court.
Akilan’s mother, Kousalya Devi, found him at their residence in Peelamedu after returning from work around 1pm on Wednesday and informed the police. His body was taken to ESI Government Medical College Hospital for postmortem examination. The Times of India reported that the body had not been handed over to the family by Thursday night because the postmortem had not yet been conducted.
The case has also triggered a protest by Akilan’s parents and relatives outside the police station. They demanded a proper investigation and the arrest of the teacher and headmaster. Akilan’s father, Ashok Kumar, said his son wanted to become an advocate and held the school management and teacher responsible for his death, according to the report.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Thangadurai said an inquiry was under way at the police commissioner level. The Child Welfare Committee is also conducting an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death and the allegations of harassment at the school.
The investigation will determine the sequence of events, the nature of the alleged harassment and whether complaints made by the student were acted upon by school authorities. The police and Child Welfare Committee inquiries remain ongoing.
