The Madras High Court, on Monday, ordered the autopsy of a class XII school girl for the second time, after she died from committing suicide in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district over alleged harassment by two school teachers, on July 13. The move came after violent protests erupted across the district, against the school administration and the police’s inaction.
During the hearing for this case, the Madras HC said that the girl’s father should be allowed to stay during the process of the autopsy. The court also ordered the police to take strict action against the mob for taking the law into their hands, and deteriorating the state’s law and order.
Following the incident, the angry mob had vandalised the school property and torched several buses. According to the local administration, the violence broke out after the mob joined the protest led by the victim’s family members and some students.
As the protests escalated, the Kallakurichi district police deployed heavy security in the school and its surrounding areas. Police have also imposed Section 144 in many areas till July 31. The Madras HC also ordered the police to find out who had incited the violence. It further noted that investigation in the incident of deaths related to educational institutes should be conducted by the CB-CID.
Meanwhile, the police today produced a total of 120 accused, who were allegedly involved in Sunday’s violence, in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi court. As of now, more than 300 people have been arrested for inciting violence following the incident.
What Is The Case?
Tension broke out across Kallakurichi district, which is about 260 kms away from the capital Chennai, after a 17-year-old school girl, R Srimathi, was found dead near her school hostel building. In her suicide note, the victim claimed that she was mentally harassed and tortured by her two teachers, P Haripriya (40) and J Krithika (28).
On Monday, district police arrested the school’s chemistry teacher Haripriya and Mathematics teacher Krithik. Earlier, three management officials including the principal and secretary of the school were arrested.
According to the police, the girl’s room was on the third floor of the hostel, and she allegedly committed suicide by jumping from the top floor. However, the post-mortem report indicated that the girl had suffered multiple injuries before she died. Police have registered a case and started an investigation. The girl’s parents, relatives, and people of Perianasalur are continuously protesting, demanding justice, and raising various apprehensions regarding her death. Demonstrations are going on in the districts of Kallakurichi and Cuddalore.
Amid the row, another girl in Tamil Nadu’s Ariyalur district, who was preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), was found dead on Saturday over the fear of failing the exam. The police also found a suicide note indicating the same. The all India exam was conducted on July 17.
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