TN schoolgirl attempts to kill self after classmates make her believe she's in porn video

In a traumatic incident of bullying, a class 12 student in Salem district of Tamil Nadu, attempted to kill herself after her classmates taunted her into believing that she had appeared in a pornographic film and that it has been circulated in the school. Priya* is undergoing treatment in Salem General Hospital for treatment.

According to the police, the incident took place when Anbu*, a classmate of 17-year-old Priya, told his friends that he had supposedly shot her video. Anbu’s friends started taunting Priya, pushing the girl into depression.

Priya’s brother informed Anbu’s parents about what had happened. In an act of revenge, on Thursday, Anbu’s uncle Raja and his cousin Ezhumalai went to Priya’s house and abused her. The men who stormed into Priya's house reportedly defended Anbu's actions.

Following an altercation, Priya attempted to take her life but was rescued by the members of the house and rushed to hospital.

The police have booked Raja and Ezhumalai under Indian Penal Code sections 294(b) (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both), 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), 306 (Abetment of suicide) and 511 (Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment).

The incident comes just a month after a class 9 student from Chennai killed herself after being bullied for her weight. According to a report in the Indian Express, the 16-year-old girl was bullied by her classmates for being obese.

The girl succumbed to her injuries at the Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital in Chennai.

Speaking to TNM, child psychologist Jayanthini advises caution when using smartphones and other devices.

She says, “Bullying has become common in school these days and is becoming a major cause of concern. Many children are terrified to tell their parents, either because the bully would have frightened the child, or because they fear the parents may create an issue and the child would still have to face the bully. They may not be able to shift schools for various reasons. As a child is taught good touch from bad touch to prevent sexual abuse at a young age, so should they be sensitised to the serious long-term consequences of bullying. They should be taught how it hurts an individual."