Coimbatore Dalit student dies by suicide over caste discrimination, teacher arrested

A 16-year-old Dalit Class 11 student at a government-aided school in Coimbatore died by suicide at his home on Wednesday, October 21, after allegedly facing caste-based harassment by his classmates. The Peelamedu police have arrested a teacher and booked the school headmaster and two students in connection with the death.

According to reports, the deceased, A Akilan, lived at AT Colony in Peelamedu and was studying in KK Naidu Higher Secondary School. His father Ashok Kumar (45) works at a resort in Munnar, Kerala, while his mother Kowsalyadevi (40) is employed as a domestic worker. His 19-year-old sister is pursuing an engineering degree at a college in the city.

According to the complaint filed by Kowsalyadevi, the alleged harassment began after Akilan and four other students responded to a teacher’s questions about their food choices in the classroom. The teacher, identified as P Vijayakumar (42), had asked students how many of them ate beef, following a discussion about enrolling Scheduled Caste students for a scholarship.

Akilan had enrolled for the scheme and when Vijayakumar asked who among the students ate beef, he and four others subsequently raised their hands. Kowsalyadevi alleged that two of Akilan’s classmates began targeting him with caste-based slurs and taunts over his food choices. His classmates also allegedly isolated him after learning that he belonged to a Scheduled Caste community.

The boy had told his parents about the alleged discrimination. According to his mother’s complaint, Akilan also reported the harassment to Vijayakumar, but the teacher failed to intervene. The school headmaster, Arun Kumar (43), was also allegedly aware of the issue but did not take action, she alleged.

Akilan was distressed by the alleged harassment and had left home to stay with a relative in Alandurai last month. But his father brought him back and complained to the school management. The taunts stopped for a few days but later resumed.

On Wednesday morning, Akilan left home around 8 am, telling his mother that he was going to school. Kowsalyadevi returned home around 1 pm for lunch and found the house unlocked. When she checked inside, she found her son’s body. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead. Police recovered the body and sent it to the ESI Government Hospital for a postmortem.

The Peelamedu police registered a case against Vijayakumar, headmaster Arun Kumar and two students under Sections 115(2) (intentionally cause pain) and 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Vijayakumar was arrested on Thursday, October 22, while the police were questioning the headmaster and the two students.

Following the incident, Akilan’s relatives gathered outside the Peelamedu police station and staged a protest, demanding the headmaster's arrest, alleging that he had failed to act despite being aware of the discrimination. The protest was withdrawn after talks with the police.

The Tamil Nadu State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has also sought a report from the Coimbatore City Police Commissioner within a week on the incident and the action taken against those responsible.

If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers of suicide-prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.

Tamil Nadu 

State health department's suicide helpline: 104

Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in Tamil Nadu)

Andhra Pradesh

Life Suicide Prevention: 78930 78930

Roshni: 9166202000, 9127848584

Karnataka 

Sahai (24-hour): 080 65000111, 080 65000222

Kerala

Maithri: 0484 2540530

Chaithram: 0484 2361161

Both are 24-hour helpline numbers.

Telangana

State government's suicide prevention (tollfree): 104

Roshni: 040 66202000, 6620200

SEVA: 09441778290, 040 27504682 (between 9 am and 7 pm

Aasara offers support to individuals and families during an emotional crisis, for those dealing with mental health issues and suicidal ideation, and to those undergoing trauma after the suicide of a loved one.

24x7 Helpline: 9820466726

Click here for working helplines across India.