Kerala: Police Begins Investigation Into Death Of Minor Girl At Religious Institution

The 17-year-old Bheemapalli native was discovered hanging inside a Muslim religious institution's library in Balaramapuram.

Kerala police have launched an investigation into the death of a minor girl at a religious institution. (Representational Image)

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The police in Kerala are looking into the death of a minor girl at a religious institution in the state capital. The 17-year-old Bheemapalli native was discovered hanging inside the library of a Muslim religious institution in Balaramapuram on Saturday, news agency PTI reported citing police on Sunday. According to police, a case was filed under Section 174 of the CrPC based on a complaint filed by the girl's family alleging suspicious death.

The girl had previously complained to her family about "mental harassment" at the institution. They said she called her mother on Saturday and asked her to pick her up. "Her mother arrived at the institution around 4.30 pm, but she was told to wait. Around 6 pm, the staff discovered the girl hanging inside the library and took her to the hospital," police told PTI.

The minor victim was a student at a Mosque-centered residential learning school (Dars/Madrassa). She called her mother to complain about the institution. The girl requested that her mother come to Balaramapuram right away. Surprisingly, the Dars authorities initially refused to allow the mother to meet the child. When her mother arrived at the institution, they claimed the ustad was not present and refused her permission, as per reports. 

According to media reports, she was discovered hanging in the religious education centre yesterday. The family claimed that the institutional authorities have harassed the child as she had previously complained about the institution. 

The authorities were not ready to hand over the child to the mother. The family was later informed that the girl had committed suicide in the bathroom. The police opened an investigation after registering a case of unnatural death.

On such residential campuses, students study both Islamic and secular subjects. These madrassas also offer courses affiliated with various universities and thus receive government funding in accordance with UGC guidelines.