Class IX student of Valparai school succumbs to burns after suicide bid

A Class IX student from a school at Valparai died at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) late on Wednesday, more than a month after she attempted to end her life.

The School Education Department and the Coimbatore District (Rural) Police have launched parallel investigations as the girl and her father had alleged that she faced mental and physical harassment from three teachers.

The deceased has been identified as S. Muthusanjana, 14, daughter of S. Sakthivel Kumar and Vathsala Kumari from Rottikadai at Valparai, who had been studying in a government school in the locality.

According to the police, the girl attempted to end her life when she was alone at her residence on October 10. She was admitted to CMCH on the same day, after being given first aid at the Government Hospital at Valparai and the District Headquarters Hospital, Pollachi. The girl, who had been undergoing treatment for burns, died around 8.40 p.m. on Wednesday.

In a petition to the Coimbatore District Superintendent of Police, Mr. Kumar alleged that his daughter took the extreme step due to mental and physical harassment by three teachers, who handle Science, English and Tamil subjects. He alleged that the science teacher teased his daughter in front of other students. While the English teacher was accused of having ridiculed the girl for her physique and complexion, the Tamil teacher was accused of having slapped her. He alleged that the Valparai police did not register a case against the teachers though a policewoman had recorded his daughter’s statement after the hospitalisation.

The family also released a video statement of the bedridden girl, which had been recorded before her death, accusing the teachers of having ill-treated her. She also alleged that a teacher made her sit with ‘slow learners’.

Coimbatore District Superintendent of Police K. Karthikeyan said a case has been registered under Section 194 (police to enquire and report on suicide, etc.) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and further investigation, covering the allegations of the girl and her father, was on.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).