Caste harassment case: Parents refuse to accept Class 11 student's body, demand arrests

The parents and relatives of a Class 11 student who died by suicide at a government-aided school in Peelamedu, Coimbatore, have refused to accept his body and are staging a sit-in protest demanding the arrest of his teacher, the headmaster and other students they allege were involved in abetting the harassment he faced.

The student, Akilan, was allegedly harassed at school over his caste and his eating habits. His mother, Kausalyadevi, lodged a complaint with the Peelamedu police, on the basis of which a case was registered against the teacher and a few of his classmates.

Two students have been arrested in connection with the case. In a press release, the city police said that 30 other students, teachers and other witnesses had been questioned as part of the investigation. Five special teams have been constituted, and CCTV camera footage and other scientific evidence are being examined. The police said the autopsy report is expected to provide further clues about the circumstances leading to the student's death.

Separate inquiries are also being conducted by officials of the School Education Department and the Child Welfare Committee. The police press release stated that a transparent investigation was under way and appealed to the public to avoid spreading rumours about the case.

The protest by the family reflects the depth of anger in the community over the allegations, and the demand that all those responsible be held to account. The case also draws attention to the obligations that schools carry to protect students from discrimination and bullying, and to the grievance mechanisms that are meant to address such complaints promptly. Under the law, educational institutions are expected to maintain a safe environment for all students, irrespective of caste, and to act on complaints of harassment rather than allow them to escalate.

Investigators have not yet made public the findings of the inquiries, and no conclusions can be drawn until the police complete their probe and the autopsy report is available. This report will be updated as verified information emerges.

Support for those in distress: Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha's Suicide Prevention Helpline 044-24640050.