Kerala: Two Teachers Booked Over Suicide Of Class 7 Student In Alappuzha

The Kerala police has registered a case against the teachers in connection with the suicide of the Alappuzha class 7.

Relatives have alleged that the 13-year-old exhibited signs of depression upon returning home from school.

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A case has been registered against two teachers in connection with the suicide of a student from class 7 in a government aided school, news agency PTI reported. The student, Prajith, was found hanging in his home in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. As per the report, the victim’s family alleged that the boy resorted to extreme measures on the evening of February 15 at home, citing enduring physical and mental abuse inflicted by certain teachers at the school.

According to a police officer, the teachers have been charged under IPC Section 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, both of which are non-bailable offences. The parents' in their complaint said, the teachers had allegedly beaten their son with a cane in front of other students. 

“The parents also claimed that he took the extreme step due to the physical and mental harassment of the teachers," the officer said on Monday.

An investigation has been initiated, and further action will be determined following its completion, he added.

Prajith Was Helping A Fellow Student

According to The Indian Express, the boy’s father claimed that Prajith had accompanied his classmate, who was feeling unwell and left the classroom to drink water. However, noticing that two students were missing from the class, a teacher used the public address system to announce that the two students were missing, listening to this the duo rushed back. The teacher immediately caned Prajith and insulted him. Another teacher later scolded him. 

“Prajith had accompanied the student after the latter complained of unease. That was why he was not in the classroom,” the complaint was quoted by Indian Express in its report.

However, the officer refrained from disclosing additional details regarding the accused teachers.

Activists from the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the ruling CPI (M), held a protest march to the school on February 19, demanding that the management take action against the implicated teachers.

Relatives have alleged that the 13-year-old, hailing from Kattoor, exhibited signs of depression upon returning home from school on February 15. Subsequently, he was discovered hanging in his room by his brother.