Chennai:
In addition to the string of deaths among schoolgirls in Tamil Nadu in recent weeks, a class 11 student was found dead yesterday at her home in Sivakasi. It is suspected that this is a case of suicide.
A police officer told DailyExpertNews: “We will not say anything until this investigation is completed.”
The girl was found hanging in her home. No suicide note has been found yet. An officer said she often suffered from severe abdominal pain.
Three class 12 girls and now a class 11 girl have died in the state in the past two weeks – three of them in the past two days.
The incident in Sivakasi took place hours after a class 12 student was found dead in Cuddalore district.
In a four-page suicide note, the Cuddalore student blamed her for “inability to fulfill the IAS aspirations imposed on her by her parents,” Police Inspector Karthik said.
Concerned by the recurring deaths, Prime Minister MK Stalin yesterday appealed to girl students to avoid suicidal thoughts. “Girls should never be forced into suicidal thoughts. Turn tribulations into achievements,” he said, adding that tough measures would be taken against those involved in sexual, mental and physical harassment of students.
On Monday, a class 12 student of Sacred Heart Girls Higher Secondary School in Tiruvallur district was found dead in her hostel. No suicide note was found.
The first of these four deaths was reported in Kallakurichi district on July 13. The student’s death at a private residential school had sparked violent protests and arson in which several people, including senior police officers, were injured.
Five people, including the school’s principal and two teachers, were arrested in the Kallakurichi case after police found a note accusing two teachers of “humiliating her for her academic achievements”.
However, the girl’s parents claimed the crime scene showed signs of physical struggle and moved to court. The Madras High Court then ordered a repeat autopsy.
The Supreme Court also ordered deaths in educational institutions to be investigated by the CB-CID.