Teacher arrested in Coimbatore student suicide case

A schoolteacher has been arrested in connection with the death of a 16-year-old Class 11 student in Peelamedu, Coimbatore, following allegations of caste-based discrimination at his school. Police are searching for the school’s headmaster, who has reportedly gone missing.
The deceased, Akilan, was the son of Ashok Kumar, who works as a laundry worker at a private lodge in Munnar, and Kausalya Devi, a sanitation worker. He was studying at a private school in Peelamedu. After the Ayudha Pooja holidays, Akilan left for school as usual on Wednesday morning. His mother returned home around 1 p.m. for lunch and found the door locked from inside. With the help of neighbours, she broke open the door and found her son dead.
Peelamedu police recovered the body and sent it to Coimbatore Government Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
In her complaint, Kausalya Devi alleged that her son had faced social exclusion after classmates learned of his caste while he was applying for a scholarship about two months ago. She said the experience had caused him considerable distress.
Police registered a case and questioned the family and school staff. Class teacher Vijayakumar was subsequently arrested amid allegations of caste-based misconduct. Headmaster Arunkumar is reportedly absconding, and police are searching for him.
Meanwhile, the student’s parents, relatives and fellow students have staged a protest, demanding a copy of the arrest record before accepting the body. The investigation is continuing.