COIMBATORE: After a 16-year-old Scheduled Caste student ended his life on Wednesday allegedly over caste discrimination at school, the Peelamedu police on Thursday booked four people — school headmaster, class teacher and two students — for abetment of suicide. The class teacher, identified as P Vijayakumar (40), has been arrested.
A Akilan, a Class 11 student, was the son of Ashokumar and Kausalya Devi of AT Colony in Peelamedu. The teacher had asked Akilan whether he ate beef, causing him mental distress, according to the complaint filed by the boy’s mother.
HM aware of discrimination, must be arrested, says family
Akilan’s father is a laundry worker at a lodge in Munnar, while his mother is a sanitary worker in Coimbatore.
According to a complaint filed by his mother, Akilan’s classmates began isolating him after recently learning about his caste. The boy allegedly told his parents about the discrimination. The school headmaster, Arunkumar, had also allegedly learnt about the discrimination but failed to intervene. Akilan remained on leave for a few days before returning to school recently. On Wednesday, Akilan left home saying he was going to school.
However, with his family members away at work, he is believed to have returned home, where he died by suicide. His mother found the body and alerted Peelamedu police. Akilan did not leave a suicide note. The body was sent to ESI Hospital for an autopsy.
In her complaint, Akilan’s mother alleged that caste discrimination at school had driven her son to take the extreme step. Police registered a case against teacher Vijayakumar, HM Arunkumar and two fellow students under Sections 115(2) and 108 of the BNS and Sections 3(2) and 3(5) of the SC/ST (PoA) Act. Vijayakumar was arrested on Thursday, while Arunkumar is being investigated.
The TN State Commission for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Communities has sought a report from the Coimbatore City Police Commissioner regarding the death. The commission has also sought details of the action taken against those responsible.
Akilan’s parents and relatives demanded the HM’s arrest, alleging that he had learnt about the discrimination but failed to intervene. Relatives and members of social organisations staged a road blockade outside Peelamedu police station. The protest was withdrawn after talks with police. Further probe is on.
(To overcome suicidal thoughts, contact TN helpline 104 or Sneha’s helpline 044-24640050)